Judge Willem Heath has claimed that he might have been the victim of a personal vendetta by certain government officials including Justice Minister Penuell Maduna.

Speaking on 702 Talk Radio this morning, ahead of his first day in the private sector, Heath said the decision to exclude him and his investigative unit from the probe into the multi-billion rand deal and then President Thabo Mbeki's refusal to discharge him from the bench were probably orchestrated by government's advisers who disliked him.

Heath said this was because there was a general perception that he knew too much.

Heath began practising as a consultant and private investigator today. He will be based in Cape Town.

With acknowledgement to iafrica.com.