Pretoria - As dawn broke Saturday on a chilly morning over South Africa's capital Pretoria, scores of supporters of Jacob Zuma began converging on government buildings for his inauguration as the country's fourth democratically elected president.

A rolled-up blanket was placed on each seat in the open-air amphitheatre at Union Buildings, where local and foreign dignitaries and members of Zuma's family will watch him take the oath of office, capping his long march to power.

Around 30 mainly African heads of state and government, including Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and Libyan leader and African Union chairman Moamer Gaddafi are expected at the 75-million-rand (8.9-million-dollar) ceremony.

Some 5,000 people are on the guest list in total. Thousands more are expected to follow the proceedings on giant screens from the surrounding lawns.

No leader of a major Western power is attending. It was not clear whether the Western leaders were anxious to avoid openly endorsing the populist Zuma or merely wanted to cut back on travel costs.

All eyes are riveted instead on the three women vying for the job of first lady.

In a first for a South African president, Zuma is a polygamist. All three of his wives are attending the inauguration. Most or all of his 19 children are also expected to be present.

Zuma's swearing-in by Chief Justice Pius Langa follows his election as president by the National Assembly in Cape Town on Wednesday.

As leader of the African National Congress, his election was a foregone conclusion after his party won a convincing majority of seats in parliament in April 22 elections. (dpa)