Former South African president Jacob Zuma, who resigned amid corruption allegations last year, dismissed claims Monday that he had enriched himself and his allies using billions of dollars in state funds, calling the charges a "conspiracy" during his first appearance before an investigating commission.

"I've been vilified, alleged to be the king of corrupt people," he said during his testimony in Johannesburg.

"This commission, from my understanding, was really created to have me coming here and perhaps to find things on me," he told Reuters. "There has been a drive to remove me from the scene … a conspiracy against me."

The commission — led by Judge Raymond Zondo — began holding public hearings in August on "State Capture," in which private entities gain influence over state institutions that allows them to secure public resources for personal gain and prevent government authorities from investigating.

Zuma, ousted by the governing African National Congress (ANC) in February 2018 and replaced by President Cyril Ramaphosa, has consistently denied wrongdoing over his nine years in power.

Referring to the three Gupta business brothers, Zuma said: "I never did anything with them unlawfully, they just remained friends. Never, never did I discuss any matter that does not belong to them.

"They were businesspeople and successful businesspeople," Zuma continued. "I'm not a businessperson, I know nothing about business, I'm a politician, I know something about politics.

"They (my enemies) took a decision that Zuma must be removed from the decision-making structures of the ANC. That's why the character assassination, that is the beginning of the process that has put me where I am today," Zuma said.

ANC spokesman Pule Mabe said the party would give the inquiry space to do its work. "The ANC is not on trial here," Mabe said.

Zuma still has allies. A group of several dozen supporters broke into clapping and chants of "Zuma" as he entered the hearing room. Outside, supporters wearing military clothing emblazoned with the emblem of the former armed wing of the ANC shouted: "Hands off Zuma!"

Zuma, expected to give testimony to the inquiry from Monday to Friday, has also been in court on several occasions over the past year to answer corruption charges linked to a deal to buy military hardware for the armed forces in the 1990s.