"Umshini wami, umshini wami," chanted the African National Congress leader, accompanied by more than 50,000 delirious supporters packing Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg to the rafters -"Bring me my machine gun".
The rally was the final campaign event for South Africa's ruling party ahead of the general election this week, which it is certain to win.
Politically, it was spectacular, and not only because of the numbers present and the helicopters in party colours flying overhead.
In a show of unity and mutual support, Mr Zuma had his arm around Mr Mandela, who is 90 and increasingly frail, as he helped him up to and down from the platform on the middle of the rugby pitch.
To have Mr Mandela – who has long reiterated that he has retired from politics – Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Mr Zuma on the same stage was a stunning coup for the ANC.
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A traditionalist Zulu polygamist (Jacob Zuma), the politician has been acquitted of rape and twice had corruption charges against him dropped on legal technicalities, leaving the way clear for his inauguration as head of state after the elections.
Mr Zuma has built his appeal on "pro-poor" policies and has won the support of Mrs Madikizela-Mandela, who despite her convictions for fraud and her alleged role in the kidnapping of Stompie Moeketsi, a 14-year-old activist murdered in 1989, remains popular among South Africa's most poverty-stricken people.
In keeping with that image, she wore a black beret adorned with a Communist star and a T-shirt showing Chris Hani, the assassinated leader of the South African Communist Party.
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