An ANC member of Parliament was booed and shouted down at a pre-election debate in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday night when he defended the dropping of corruption charges against Jacob Zuma.

"The NPA independently applied its mind and came to a conclusion which you don't like because it belongs to a different party," Enoch Godongwana said to loud boos and thumbs down signs from members of the 300 strong audience.

"I want to prefix this against what the judge said when he dismissed Zuma's case."

He said it placed Zuma's case before a court of public opinion.

"Shaya wena (I will hit you)," one woman wearing a yellow Congress of the People (Cope) muttered in response.

The crowd of about 300 clapped and cheered in agreement as United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader Bantu Holomisa called for Zuma's case to be tested in court.

"We feel strongly that the political interference should have been tested in court," Holomisa said.

"In August, I was expecting that Mr Zuma's lawyers would file a case within a case where they say they are not supposed to be here because of political interference.

"A paper trail and the sentencing of Schabir Shaik indicates that Mr Zuma connived with arms deal funders. Let's have this clarified in a court of law."

'Hallelujah' from the audience

The Democratic Alliance representative at the debate, Athol Trollip, also received loud applause when he said the NPA had shown no appetite to prosecute Zuma.

"You need more than a minute to comment on a case that's taken seven years and taxpayer's money," Trollip said to a shout of "hallelujah" from the audience.

"We demand a competent body make a decision about charges that still remain against Mr Zuma. Despite spending R100-million the NPA capitulated on eve of election. The NPA cannot be a player and referee in this debacle."

Cope's representative Mkhuseli Jack, who is a businessman in Port Elizabeth, said the Zuma case was one of the major reasons that made his party migrate from the ANC.

"The rule of law and the principle of equality is fundamental," he said.

"This case was one of the main reasons Cope migrated from ANC - people believe the principle of equality was put above law. We were happy to leave because of this."

Pan Africanist Congress delegate Mzwanele Nyhontso was another who was cheered for his remarks on Zuma.

"In a banana republic laws are there but not obeyed by those who made them," he said to shouts of "ja, ja, ja".

"These double standards are a characteristic of a country gone bananas.

"If you don't have money you don?t have justice. If our leaders are charged and not able to afford to have legal minds we will refuse (to go to court).

We will go back to the bush if you are doing that."