South Africa's sacked Deputy President Jacob Zuma appeared in court on corruption charges on Wednesday and was immediately released on 1,000 rand ($150) bail as the case was postponed to October.
Hundreds of chanting supporters gathered outside the Durban Magistrate's Court as Zuma - still widely popular in the ruling African National Congress - arrived for the hearing in a case which has hobbled his chances of becoming president in 2009.
"The day that the state has decided to prosecute in a proper forum has finally arrived," Zuma told reporters at a brief news conference following his court appearance.
"For a period of five years my person has been subject to all types of allegations and innuendo ... without these allegations having been tested and thereby being denied my constitutional right to reply and defend myself," he said.
The court postponed the case until Oct. 11 and directed Zuma to pay bail of 1,000 rand.
President Thabo Mbeki sacked Zuma two weeks ago after he was implicated in a corruption trial of his former financial adviser Schabir Shaik.
Zuma's departure was widely hailed as proof of Mbeki's determination to set an example to the rest of Africa by fighting official corruption, a vexing topic for international donors, lenders and companies.
But it has split the ANC, where Zuma remains party deputy president with a large following among the rank and file.
Zuma also commands huge support amongst the government's labour allies and the South African Communist Party, who see the charges as a chance for him to clear his name.
"Now that he is in court, Zuma is ok, because he can prove he is innocent," supporter Vusi Khoza told Reuters. "We will be back on the 11th of October because we know he is innocent."
Women wearing ANC shirts sobbed as Zuma, in a black suit and red tie, entered the courtroom and supporters crammed inside yelled "Down with Mbeki" in Zulu as he left after the hearing.
Later, several thousand people chanting pro-Zuma slogans marched through downtown Durban, the main city in KwaZulu-Natal province where Zuma enjoys great support among fellow Zulus.
Prosecutors announced this month that they would bring two charges of corruption against Zuma, once seen as the frontrunner to succeed Mbeki when his term ends in 2009.
The announcement followed the corruption conviction of Shaik prompted by an arms purchasing scandal in 2000.
The judge in that case said the two men had a "generally corrupt" relationship and that Shaik had both solicited bribes for Zuma from a French arms firm and paid bribes himself in hopes of furthering his business interests.
Zuma has denied any wrong-doing and on Wednesday urged his angry supporters to let the law take its course.
"I think the anger has basically been for the way, for the last half a decade, this matter has been handled," Zuma said.
"I trust that my right to a speedy trial will be observed. I respect the criminal justice system and the due process of law ... which I and many others have dedicated our lives to."