Shaik owns up about Zuma

2005-03-01 15:30

Durban - Fraud and corruption accused Schabir Shaik has admitted in Durban High Court that he overstated the length of his relationship with deputy president Jacob Zuma.

Shaik told the court on Tuesday that he got his dates wrong in this regard.

Some of his documents indicate that he and Zuma have been working together for the past 25 years. However, the two met only in the mid-80s, Shaik conceded.

Asked why the documents indicated otherwise, Shaik said the dates were wrong.

In day two of his cross examination by prosecutor Billy Downer, Shaik more than once replied, "why don't you ask the French?", or "why don't you put it to the deputy president himself?"

Shaik said he would still have bankrolled Zuma even if he was not deputy president.

"I don't believe there is any exclusivity between Zuma and me," said Shaik when asked if their relationship was based on financial support in exchange for using Zuma's influence.

Shaik said one of the reasons Zuma had helped him was because French arms company Thomson CSF had problems in understanding black economic empowerment (BEE).

He said it was Zuma's duty to deal with any problems relating to BEE.

Shaik added BEE should benefit all black people in South Africa, as well as disadvantaged whites.

- SAPA