Zuma remains in service during investigation. If there is any evidence against him, he would like to see it, said Mbeki.

Vice Pres Jacob Zuma will be prosecuted "like any other person" if the national prosecutions authority obtains evidence that he was involved in irregularities with the state's strategic arms acquisition, Pres Thabo Mbeki said yesterday.

In his first public reaction on this issue, Mbeki however stood firm that Zuma would not vacate his position while the Scorpions investigate allegations against the vice president - the law must be allowed to take its course.

An enormous amount of rumours are doing the rounds in South Africa" a visibly irritated Mbeki said in a live verbal exchange with two British journalists in a media conference.

"If there is evidence (against Zuma), I would like to see it for myself.

Zuma was re-elected as vice president of the ANC on Monday.

Worrying questions have however developed last month after media reports alleged that he received bribery money of R500 000 to protect a company, Thompson-CSF (now Thales) during the governments investigation into corruption on its multibillion rand arms package last year.

These allegations are contained in court papers which is currently being examined by the Scorpions.

Mbeki reacted sharply yesterday when a journalist of the British magazine The Economist wanted to know from him if the allegations on Zuma did not contradict his (Mkeki)'s announcements on corruption. "What is the problem with that?" Mbeki answered angrily. "You should be congratulating us that the Scorpions are investigating the case. If the Scorpions decide that there is a case to which answers must be given, he (Zuma) will have to answer. They (the Scorpions) will come to a conclusion and we will react accordingly.

A journalist of The Telegraph then wanted to know why Mr Tony Yengeni, the ANC's former chief whip in parliament, had to resign from his position on similar allegations while Zuma is now being allowed to remain in service. Mbeki said that there is not a "fixed rule" about this. Yengeni resigned out of his own after the Scorpions charged him officially. Zuma on the other hand, is at this stage merely the target of vague allegations.

"Who made these allegations (on Zuma)?" Mbeki wanted to know from the journalist.

"It is contained in court documents," he answered.

"Yes, but who has done it?"

When the journalist could not answer him, Mbeki said : "You see, this is precisely my problem with  the whole issue."

"The case (of Yengeni) is before the courts and I think this is a good thing. The case (of Zuma) is before the Scorpions and I think this is a good thing... but in this case (Zuma) you argue that the vice president must resign merely because the Scorpions are investigating it.

"Let the legal process take its course" Mbeki said.

"If we reach the point where official complaints are handed in, we will reflect on the situation,"

According to Mbeki, he (Zuma) will be charged like any other South African if evidence is found against him.

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Just who was it that made these allegations against the innocent (until proven otherwise) Deputy-President Zuma?

Was it Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, The Easter Bunny, Alain Thetard, or was it Adv. Billy Downer?

Just who could it possibly be?

- R.M. Young

With acknowledgements to Bun Booyens, Adrian Lackay and Die Burger.