Kwanyawo - At his first public appearance after a storm of corruption allegations against him erupted, deputy president Jacob Zuma announced on Thursday he would not resign.

After he addressed the community in this remote corner of northern KwaZulu-Natal, he was asked by an man wearing an Inkatha Freedom Party T-shirt: "We read about you in the newspapers and hear about you on the television - what actually happened for the Scorpions to investigate you?"

Zuma said he was in KwaZulu-Natal when the government's arms deal was approved and could therefore not have influenced the decision. At the time, Zuma was the provincial MEC for economic affairs.

"Many departments worked on the transaction and I could not influence it," said Zuma.

"I kept quiet for two years while people said I had abused my position. No one asked me about a sum of R500 000. I am a poor man and shocked by the allegations."

Zuma said he would like a chance to defend himself.

"I have never been corrupt and will never be. I hope the truth will come out one day. Those who say I should resign are not those who brought me to where I am today.

"South Africans have every right to be grateful that the deputy president can be investigated. Perhaps those same people should also ask for the case to go to court. I will not resign because I am innocent. If a court finds me guilty I will resign without being asked."

Zuma's remarks come after numerous allegations of corruption were made against him in the charge sheet served on his financial advisor Schabir Shaik. Despite the allegations, the Scorpions decided not to prosecute him.

When asked if he would like to be charged so he could present his case in court, Zuma said: "If there is a case I would like the chance to answer the charges, but I am not in control of the case and therefore cannot decide how it is handled."

When asked again if he personally would choose to be charged, Zuma repeated his position, and added that there were other forums apart from the courts where he could state his case.

This remark comes amid the possibility of a parliamentary investigation into whether he declared his interests and alleged gifts of over R1m.

Responding to allegations in the charge sheet that he was a secret shareholder in the Nkobi group, which benefited from the arms deal, Zuma said: "I am not aware of the shares. I read about this in the newspapers."

A strong police and army presence was maintained at the imbizo attended by about 2 000 people.

With acknowledgements to Jan-Jan Joubert, Willem Jordaan and News24.