Deputy President Jacob Zuma's office on Tuesday again denied media reports that alleged he may have financially gained from the country's multi-billion rand strategic arms package.

"We would like to reiterate that the allegations of corruption and bribery made against Deputy President Jacob Zuma are without foundation," his spokesperson Lakela Kaunda said in a statement.

The allegations were published in the weekly Mail & Guardian newspaper late last month. Kaunda immediately denied the report, but other media and political parties repeated the allegations in the following days.

The M&G reported that the Scorpions were investigating Zuma for allegedly attempting to secure a bribe of R500 000 a year from French defence company Thomson-CSF - which has since been incorporated into the pan-European defence giant, Thales.

The alleged bribe was to be paid in return for Zuma's protection of Thales during the investigation into the arms deal, the newspaper reported. The bribe was also allegedly to secure the permanent support of Zuma for future projects.

Thales and its South African subsidiary African Defence Systems were part of the German Frigate Consortium, which successfully bid for a R6bn contract to supply the Navy with four corvette warships.

The allegations against Zuma were contained in a confidential affidavit filed by a senior Scorpions prosecutor, Advocate William Downer, in August last year, the newspaper said.

The Scorpions have not confirmed they are investigating anyone with regard to the allegations carried by newspapers.

The Pan Africanist Congress, the United Democratic Movement, the New National Party and the Democratic Alliance have all called for the matter to be thoroughly investigated.

Kaunda added that it had to be borne in mind that Zuma had not been charged with any wrongdoing or crime by any structure in the criminal justice system of the country.

"We therefore urge all interested parties to exercise patience and restraint, and allow space for any investigation that could be in progress," Kaunda said.

ANC

Well-placed sources in the African National Congress have charged that the series of allegations about Deputy President Jacob Zuma's role in the arms deal appeared to be designed to discredit him before the ANC's national conference in Stellenbosch next week, The Cape Argus reported on Tuesday.

"These reports and allegations seem to have been designed to discredit the deputy president in case he emerges as a contender for the presidency," a source told the paper.

Zuma has been tipped to retain his position as deputy president of the ANC and there have been no challenges to Thabo Mbeki's leadership of the organisation so far.

Non-committal

In Pretoria on Monday, Zuma was non-committal on speculation in some quarters that there could be a political hand behind the timing of allegations against him.

"I don't know - I don't think so. Whenever the (ANC) conference comes, these matters tend to arrive for a variety of reasons.

"But I think there might be some sinister motives besides the political ones," he said, without elaborating.

Zuma dismissed speculation that the allegations could cause him problems at the ANC conference.

"No, not at all. Why should they? The allegations are unfounded and completely baseless."

The Cape daily reported that Zuma also vigorously defended his relationship with Schabir Shaik, a friend and his financial adviser, who has been targeted by the Scorpions and summoned to appear in court in Pretoria on Wednesday to answer questions on arms deal allegations involving Zuma and others.

With acknowledgement to City Press.