Hundreds of former president Jacob Zuma's supporters have gathered outside the state capture commission of inquiry where he is appearing.

Zuma is giving testimony following allegations made by a number of people who have testified before the commission. His supporters came out in their numbers on Monday to show support for Zuma, who they say is being persecuted.

Gorbachev Dyodo, who identified himself as Radical Economic Transformation Forces chairperson and secretary of Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association, said  they believed the commission was being used to fight ANC battles.

“We are here in particular today to highlight this to the ANC and the commission to say 'let’s not use the commission to fight ANC battles'. If comrades want to fight they must go fight in the NEC [ANC national executive committee] because [they] are comrades who have been elected collectively at Nasrec. So, if they are having issues with each other, let them sort them out in the NEC and not use the commission to fight battles,” he said.

The supporters sang and danced at a park near the commission’s venue. They wore ANC regalia with some in T-shirts bearing Zuma’s face. They had a full programme which will take place as Zuma continues his testimony. Zuma is expected to address them when he is done for the day.

Dyodo said they wanted Zuma to know that he enjoyed their full support. “We are here because there is a notion that suggests because Zuma comes from KZN when he appears here there’s nobody who’s going to support him. So we’re coming here in our own right as ANC members to come and support [former] president Zuma,” he said.

The ANC has previously said that members should refrain from wearing party regalia when they support Zuma. Dyodo said they would dress as they pleased and that no one could dictate what and where they wore their clothing.

“We are ANC members in our own right. We will wear these things. We are black, green and gold like any other ANC members so there’s nobody who’s more black, green and gold than any other member. We’re all equal, we pay the same membership that everybody is paying. So we’re going to wear our ANC things, not outside the ANC but in ANC structures. We’re going to wear ANC things and say these things in the ANC itself,” he said.