Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal - Police were preventing DA leader Helen Zille and her entourage from approaching President Jacob Zuma's homestead in Nkandla on Sunday, for her own safety.
Zille told reporters she would stand her ground, that she had permission to be there, and that a group of ANC protesters had no permission to block the road leading to the homestead.
About 700m from where the Democratic Alliance was stopped, police in riot gear prevented ANC supporters from advancing. Officers formed a human chain across the road, outside Zuma's residence, in the village of KwaNxamalala. Two water canons and several armoured Nyala vehicles were parked nearby.
The song Awulethu Mshini Wami (Bring me my machine gun) was blaring from a sound system. Some people carried placards reading: "Stop attacking Zuma".
Eight people lay down in the road and refused to move when police asked them to. ANC supporters spilled out of several buses that arrived earlier in the morning.
A police helicopter was in the air and officers were stopping vehicles heading in the direction of Zuma's compound, checking licences and identities.
The Democratic Alliance intended visiting Zuma's private residence, where an upgrade, reportedly costing R200 million, and funded with taxpayers' money, was in progress. Zille and DA officials intended inspecting roads around the property and would try to enter the compound.
The African National Congress and its allies have criticised the move. On Saturday the SA Communist Party said the planned inspection was part of a racist right-wing agenda.
On Friday the African National Congress warned the DA could receive a welcoming similar to the stone-throwing that erupted in May when the opposition party tried to march to the Congress of SA Trade Unions' headquarters in Johannesburg. - Sapa