Suspended African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general Ace Magashule said on Monday that he will never leave the party nor be banned from the party.  

Magashule was addressing former President Jacob Zuma’s supporters outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court following Zuma’s brief appearance in court on corruption charges.

Zuma and the French arms company Thales are accused of colluding in the now infamous arms deal case. 

The case was postponed to May 26.

Among those who were out to support Zuma was ANC National Executive Committee member Tony Yengeni, KwaZulu-Natal ANC secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli and Carl Niehaus.

Lashing out at the media, Magashule said he was not "made by the media".          

“I don’t need the media. I need the masses of our people, black in general, Africans in particular,” he said.

Magashule thanked the KwaZulu-Natal provincial leadership under the leadership of premier Sihle Zikalala.

Meanwhile, Zuma said he was ready to challenge the law if those in the judiciary distorted it.

“I want them to do justice. I am one of those who fought for democracy,” Zuma said. 

He pleaded with his supporters to refrain from talking about other ANC issues when they come out to support him in court.

He said they need to respect the ANC like he has done.

“There will be platforms like the conferences where other matters will be discussed. I have so many years in the ANC but I don’t drag other people’s names in the mud because I don’t want to jeopardise the ANC. If I can divulge information about those in the high ranks of the ANC, could be a big blow to the party,” he warned.

Zuma thanked his supporters for coming out in their numbers.