Resolve feud, Mbeki, Zuma urged

2006-09-26 12:00

Durban - Schabir Shaik, the Durban businessman accused of a corrupt relationship with former deputy president Jacob Zuma, on Tuesday urged Zuma and President Thabo Mbeki to resolve their differences.

Speaking from his Durban home Shaik said: "It's tragic that two politicians can't resolve their differences. I wish that Mbeki and Zuma could resolve their differences so that some of us little men can live normal lives.

"I wish Mbeki could see the damage he's caused in my life, some of which is irreparable."

Schabir Shaik was found guilty on two charges of corruption and one charge of fraud by Judge Hilary Squires in July 2005. At the time Squires found that Shaik had a "generally corrupt" relationship with Zuma when sentencing the Durban businessman to a 15-year prison term.

Shaik has not been present in Bloemfontein while appeal against his sentence and conviction are being heard in the Supreme Court of Appeal, but has instead chosen to stay at home to "spend some quality time with my five-month-old little boy".

He said "it is a stressful time with all you guys (the media) after me".

He said that he was not "compelled" to be in Bloemfontein.

Referring to the Judge Herbert Msimang's decision last week to dismiss Zuma's corruption case, he said he did not "believe from a legal perspective" that it would have much effect on his own appeal.

- SAPA