JOHANNESBURG, June 29 (Xinhuanet) -- Dismissed South African deputy president Jacob Zuma made a brief court appearance on two corruption charges in Durban on Wednesday.

    This will be the precursor to the criminal prosecution of the highest political figure for a serious crime in the history of South African law.

    Bail was set at just 1,000 rands (150 US dollars) and the case was postponed until October 11.

    "This case is postponed to October 11, 2005, you are to pay bail of R1000. The conditions are that witnesses are not to be interfered with directly or indirectly," Magistrate TS Ngcube said.

    Zuma will not have to hand in his passport but will have to inform the prosecution every time he leaves the country.

    Zuma was officially been charged on two counts of corruption.

    Outside the court, prosecutor Anton Steinberg said it was not certain yet who would handle the case.

    Zuma was mobbed by supporters as he left the Durban Magistrate's Court on Wednesday after his first appearance on two corruption charges.

    People shouted, sang, blew vuvuzelas and waved posters of him with the words "Innocent until proved guilty" and chanted "Zuma, Zuma, Zuma" then in Zulu "You messed up Mbeki."

    Some of the dozens of policemen controlling the crowds also waved as he made his way through the throng which included photographers jostling for pictures, while a helicopter circled overhead.

    At the gates of the courthouse he stood on the step of a waiting black SUV and waved to the crowd for about five minutes, and smiled.

    He did not address them or make any comment.

    Judge Hilary Squires of the Durban High Court recently found a "generally corrupt" relationship existed between Zuma and businessman Schabir Shaik, who acted as his financial adviser.

    The case related to alleged payments made to Zuma in exchange for protection during probes into arms deal contracts.

    Shaik was sentenced to an effective 15 years in prison for corruption and fraud, and he will apply for leave to appeal his sentence on July 26. Zuma was subsequently fired by Mbeki on June 14, after he was implicated in the Shaik case.

    The National Prosecuting Authority has said although it believed it had evidence against Zuma, it did not think it would win a case against him.

    Zuma has repeatedly said he would welcome a chance to go to court on the matter. Shaik, who is on bail, was not seen at the court.

    Zuma also suspended his work for the governing African NationalCongress, but still remains popular with the party's rank and file.Enditem