Cape Town - Deputy President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday again denied allegations that he tried to solicit a R500 000 bribe from an arms company, adding that he did not know if he was under investigation by the Scorpions on the issue.

According to newspaper reports, Zuma is being probed by the Scorpions for allegedly soliciting the bribe from former Southern African head of Thompson-SCF (now Thales), Alain Thetard.

In written reply to a question in the National Assembly by Raenette Taljaard (DA), Zuma said he had not met Thetard on March 11, 2000 in Durban (as alleged) "or anywhere else in South Africa".

He had also not discussed the issue of protecting Thales or any other company or individual from the Joint Investigating Team's probe into the arms deal with anyone at all.

In his capacity as deputy president, and previously as KwaZulu-Natal economic affairs and tourism MEC, Zuma said he had interacted with a large number of people, but was unable to personally remember the names of all of them.

"Alain Thetard may have been part of one of the Thompson-SCF delegations."

Zuma added that he had no business interests and/or shareholdings in Thales or the other companies mentioned in this regard (the Nkobi Group and African Defence System). Nor did he have any knowledge of any member of his extended family having any such interests and/or shareholdings.

He had heard from media reports about the allegations "that I requested money in return for support or protection to Thompson-SCF".

The media reports also stated the matter was being investigated by the Scorpions.

Unaware of investigation

"The Directorate of Special Operations has however never approached me for comment. At my request, my attorneys, approached the National Director of Public Prosecutions when the allegations first surfaced late last year, to enquire as to whether I was indeed being investigated.

"The national director refused to confirm or deny that such an investigation was taking place. I am therefore gathering most of the information in this matter from the media," Zuma said.

Last month, Justice Minister Penuell Maduna - who is the politically accountable head of the Scorpions - told reporters he did not know whether the unit was investigating Zuma.

"I know as much as the media have reported," he said then.

"I am therefore not in the position to say whether there is a probe into the deputy president, or, if there is one, when that will be concluded. I don't know," Maduna said.

During question time in the Assembly on Wednesday afternoon, Zuma was again asked by Democratic Alliance Chief Whip Douglas Gibson about the allegations, saying now was the moment to protest his innocence before parliament and before the people of South Africa.

"They need to hear you deny the allegations and lift the cloud of suspicion which is being cast over your head," Gibson said.

Zuma replied he had indeed denied the allegations "in the newspapers which have published this".

With acknowledgements to Sapa and www.news24.co.za