The Scorpions investigating unit has been threatened with several lawsuits following this week's release of the charge sheet against Schabir Shaik.

Wealthy Durban businessman Vivian Reddy has joined a class-action civil suit against the Scorpions for implicating him.

Lawyer Stephan Franke of Franke & Associates confirmed on Friday that he had received instructions from Reddy and Eric Malengret, owner of Eric's Industrial Plumbing and Building, to institute the action on their behalf.

Malengret was named as the builder of Deputy President Jacob Zuma's R1.3-million traditional homestead in Nkandla, Zululand.

Franke said he had instructed senior Durban advocate Kessie Naidu to prepare and institute the action. "I will definitely be going ahead with preparations for the class action for Reddy, Malengret and the number of companies and close corporations that they own and have been mentioned in the charge sheet," said Franke.

"We have reason to believe that a number of high-profile people will also be joining in with us. We are sure of our ability to win the civil case."

Malengret said he believed he had been defamed in the charge sheet under the heading "Money laundering and receipt of bribe".

The state alleges that French arms company Thomson/Thales paid money to Shaik's Nkobi Holdings and that some of the money ended up funding Zuma's extensive Nkandla development through Reddy's Development Africa Trust.

It also alleges that, through the trust, Reddy settled Zuma's debt with Eric's Industrial Plumbing and Building.

Malengret said the state had accused him of being @ party to money-laundering.

According to the charge sheet, Zuma needed funds in 1999 to pay for the homestead in Nkandla, a 12-unit complex built at a cost of R1.3-million. Construction was completed in 2001.

Reddy is accused of having paid R50 000 from one of his companies, Edison Health, to the developer.

It is alleged that a further cheque of R50 000, drawn from his personal account, was deposited into the account of the developer.

But Malengret said he had been paid by Zuma through a bond from First National Bank in Zuma's name.

Scorpions spokesman Sipho Ngwema said the unit had not been served with papers.

With acknowledgements to Mawande Jubasi and the Sunday Times.