South Africa's former President Jacob Zuma has been charged with corruption linked to a 1990s arms deal.
After the 75-year-old's 15-minute appearance at the High Court in Durban on Friday morning, the case was adjourned until 8 June.
He faces 16 counts of corruption, racketeering, fraud and money laundering, which dogged his presidency and were reinstated in 2016.
Mr Jacob Zuma, who was forced out of office in February, denies any wrongdoing.
His supporters descended on the city to rally for him, while his critics think court action is long overdue.
After the hearing, Mr Zuma addressed the crowds, who had come to stand alongside him at the court in his home province.
"I have never seen it before where someone is charged with a crime, those charges are dropped and then years later those same charges are re-instated. This is a just a political conspiracy," he said in Zulu.
He then led them in song and dance.
The arms deal took place in 1999, the year Jacob Zuma moved from being a provincial minister to deputy president.
He is accused of accepting bribes from French arms firm Thales via his financial adviser.
The adviser, Schabir Shaikh, was found guilty of trying to solicit the bribes and was jailed in 2005.
The case against Mr Zuma was dropped shortly before he ran for president in 2009.
In 2016, a court ruled that he breached his oath of office by using government money to upgrade a private home in the rural area of Nkandla. He later repaid the money.
Last year he was also accused of profiteering from a relationship with the wealthy Gupta family - allegations that both parties have denied.
In February, Jacob Zuma resigned following intense pressure from the ANC party. He had been told to step down or face another vote of no-confidence in parliament.