With opposition parties baying for his resignation, Deputy President Jacob Zuma is maintaining his innocence while suggesting that Schabir Shaik was completely responsible for his financial affairs.

The relationship between the two men was characterised as a "corrupt" one in the charge sheet filed against Shaik yesterday.

Zuma's response (see box below) appears to shift the blame to Shaik.

The charge sheet concedes that Shaik enjoyed "full power of attorney in respect of Zuma's personal financial affairs and in respect of funding and managing them".

However, it continues, Shaik's position as Zuma's adviser was "not in terms of any regulations relating to such appointments", and he received no payment for his services.

Among other things, he "assisted Zuma in his official duties, advised on matters pertaining to the economy and policy and assisted in ANC party matters".

Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon yesterday called on Zuma to "resign or step down", arguing that it would be untenable for him to remain in office with a cloud of suspicion hanging over him.

Leon said Zuma was the leader of government business in parliament and head of the government's moral regeneration campaign, both of which required someone beyond reproach to take the lead.

"The institution of democracy is under threat," Leon insisted.

United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa yesterday said Zuma "must resign, be fired" or must await the outcome of the Scorpions investigations "outside government office".

The more he attacked the Scorpions and Justice Minister Penuell Maduna, "the guiltier he looks".

"He used the office of the deputy president from the outset of the arms deal investigation to intimidate Scopa and question the motives for the investigation. He cannot under these circumstances be allowed to continue to use the office of the deputy president as a platform from which to defend himself and attack his accusers."

Holomisa added that since the charge sheet against Shaik had become public knowledge, "nobody can doubt the depth or scope of the alleged criminal activities that reflect directly on the deputy president.

"It is clear from these charges that it was only the status of his office that has thus far saved Mr Zuma the embarrassment of being arrested and charged."

The president and the ANC had to realise that the interests of the country must supersede the interests of the party and the individual, he said.

With acknowledgements to Jeremy Michaels, Andre Koopman and The Star.