A call has been made for Deputy President Jacob Zuma to open his financial affairs to a forensic audit to expunge "the stain on his name" following allegations that he had attempted to commit bribery in the R53bn arms deal.

Democratic Alliance MP Raenette Taljaard said the allegations against Zuma "raise questions of potential unethical and criminal conduct, questions which, if proven, could make a mockery out of Mr Zuma's leadership of the government's moral regeneration campaign".

She said: "These allegations strike at the heart of the country's body politic and have to be resolved as a matter of urgency." The Mail & Guardian alleged last week Zuma had tried to secure payment of R500 000 a year from Thomson CSF, since incorporated into Thales, to protect its interests during the arms deal probe and to secure his support for future projects. Zuma has denied the allegations as without basis and mischievous.

The Scorpions elite investigation unit would not clarify if the allegations against Zuma were among those arms deal-related allegations under investigation.

"Further allegations that (Zuma) was present at a meeting at the Nkobi Group's offices on 18 November 1998 during discussions of a 10% sale of Thomson CSF shares to Nkobi, adds to the numerous questions surrounding the conflicts of interest and external factors at play that led to the awarding of the corvette combat suite deal to Thomson CSF and African Defence Systems," Taljaard said.

"These allegations about a R500 000 bribe and possible financial interest in Nkobi can easily be laid to rest. Instead of merely denying these allegations, Mr Zuma should open his affairs up to a forensic audit in order to back his denials with fact and to prove that he has not received any bribes. Being on the verbal defensive is woefully insufficient."

Taljaard said the Scorpions should probe every aspect of the allegations, "without any attempts at undue influence or obstruction on the part of government".

With acknowledgement to Linda Ensor and Business Day.