Mugabe's supporters gather outside Pretoria hotel

Scores of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's supporters gathered outside the Pretoria hotel where the octogenarian leader is staying during his state visit to South Africa.

"We are friends of Zanu-PF. We are here to demonstrate solidarity with President Mugabe. Our agenda is very clear," said Prince Chitambo, self-proclaimed leader of the Sangano Madzimbahwe Movement.

"We only migrated to South Africa because of the illegal sanctions hurting Zimbabweans. The problems is that industry is being shut by the former colonisers."

Chitambo said his organisation had more than 2 000 Zimbabweans based in Gauteng.

The group waved Zimbabwe national flags along Wessels Street, in Arcadia.

Security was heightened at the Sheraton Hotel, where South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa paid a courtesy call on Mugabe.

Tshwane metro police officers and members of the South African Police Services were stationed outside the hotel.