Deputy President Jacob Zuma refused to comment to the Sunday Times this week. But his office said in a statement on the government's website:

"We would like to reiterate that the allegations of corruption and bribery made against the deputy president are without foundation. We wish to place on record that the deputy president has never asked for, or received, a bribe from any arms bidder as alleged and that such allegations are preposterous.

"In addition Deputy President Zuma does not have a financial interest in any arms firm or arms manufacturer."

He never used his relationship to benefit Schabir Shaik in any of his business dealings and had not been charged with any wrongdoing or crime, the statement said.

In the Sowetan on Friday :

Zuma dismissed the claims as part of a campaign to discredit him ahead of the ANC national conference, starting tomorrow.

The newspaper reported that previous allegations of impropriety involving payment for his house by a private donor had surfaced ahead of a previous ANC conference in Mafikeng.

In the Cape Times on Tuesday :

"The allegations are unfounded and completely baseless," said Zuma. The newspaper said Zuma defended his relationship with Shaik, saying it was unreasonable to expect him to drop a long-standing friend in the liberation struggle because he had become a businessman. "He was my cadre . . . He was my comrade and friend."

Zuma did not deny meeting Alain Thetard, the former Southern African representative of Thales/Thomson-CSF.

With acknowledgements to Mzilikazi wa Afrika, Jessica Bezuidenhout, Andre Jurgens and the Sunday Times.