South Africa’s former president, Jacob Zuma, said graft charges against him were “politically motivated” after he appeared in court on Friday over a multi-billion-dollar arms deal in the 1990s.

Jacob Zuma

“I am innocent till proven guilty, but there are people who want to treat me like I am guilty,” Zuma told cheering supporters outside the Durban High Court after the case was adjourned following a 15-minute preliminary hearing.