Cape Town - Deputy President Jacob Zuma travels with whom he wants - and that is the end of the story.

This was the reaction from Zuma's office on Sunday after it became known that he was accompanied on a government trip by one of the people facing criminal charges for his involvement in the government's controversial arms deal.

Zuma's spokesperson, Lakela Kaunda, said: "It is Zuma's right to decide who travels with him and, on that particular day, it was Schabir Shaik."

Kaunda was reacting to reports that Shaik accompanied Zuma on an official trip to Dakar in April when the deputy president attended a New Partnership for Africa's Development congress.

Shaik is charged with having confidential documents from the cabinet in his possession when the Scorpions searched his house last year.

He is a businessman in the arms industry and is alleged to have used his contacts with senior African National Congress members to bid for parts of the arms contract.

When asked why Shaik accompanied Zuma, Kaunda said: "I cannot understand the fuss. The deputy president decides."

When asked whether Zuma's travelling companions had to have security clearance and whether someone facing criminal charges qualified, Kaunda replied: "That is the deputy president's prerogative. I am not aware of any requirements."

Mbeki's office silent on allegations

Lorna Daniels of the department of national intelligence did not want to comment on whether Shaik's security clearance had been affected by the case against him.

"It's not our policy to disclose the level of security clearance or the level of clearance to which people must comply," she said.

Meanwhile, the office of President Thabo Mbeki remains silent on whether a commission of inquiry is planned into allegations that Zuma was involved in irregularities related to the arms deal.

The Democratic Alliance is demanding such an investigation and said in a statement on Sunday it was not fitting that Shaik had accompanied Zuma.

Raenette Taljaard, DA MP, said a commission of inquiry should decide whether Zuma was fit to be a deputy president if he consorted with someone who was standing trial on criminal charges.

Mbeki's spokesperson, Bheki Khumalo, said certain aspects regarding the case were sub judice and therefore he could not comment on whether an investigation was planned. He referred queries to Zuma's office.

Sipho Ngwema of the Scorpions also refused to comment on whether the deputy president's alleged involvement in the arms deal was being investigated.

Refusing to testify

Die Burger newspaper has established that the relationship between Zuma and Shaik is relevant to some of the questions the Scorpions wanted the businessman to answer.

Earlier this year, the Scorpions asked Shaik to testify on several aspects of the arms deal, and Zuma's alleged involvement was one of the issues they wanted addressed.

However, Shaik is refusing to testify and the Scorpions have approached the court to force some answers from him.

Ngwema confirmed court documents had been filed and the Scorpions' questions regarding Zuma formed part of these documents. He did not want to comment on whether specific allegations against Zuma were being investigated.

With acknowledgements to Willem Jordaan, Jan-Jan Joubert and Die Burger.