The Democratic Alliance has called on the government to appoint a commission fo inquiry to investigate allegations of bribery and corruption surrounding Deputy President Jacob Zuma. The DA also chided the ANC for dismissing allegations of bribery against Zuma as "minor" while the Scorpions were pursuing the allegations with all serousness.

"Despite the fact that the Scorpions are taking the allegations seriously, the ANC has dismissed them as "really a very minor thing and really just allegations", the DA's Raenette Taljaard said.

Taljaard was commenting on the ANC's reaction to allegations in a court affidavit that Zuma tried to secure a R500 000-a-year bribe from the French arms manufacturer Thomson-CSF (later to become Thales) in return for protection from the arms probe.

Schabir Shaik, Zuma's friend and financial advisor, is due to appear in court tomorrow to answer questions in connection with corruption allegations connected to the arms deal.

With acknowledgements to John Battersby and Cape Times.