In addition to the multibillion-rand arms deal, businessman Schabir Shaik also allegedly eyed a lucrative slice of the proposed Durban airport, according to the charge sheet.

Thomson CSF France, a company that wanted to conduct business in South Africa, was on a mission to this country in February 1999.

By that time Shaik, who used his close connections with the ruling party's number two, also had other projects lined up including several joint ventures with his French partners.

A meeting was held with Shaik during which he enumerated big investment plans for which the government wished to find partners.

"These plans included a proposed new airport in Durban and the possibility of Thomson's involvement."

The state alleges that, built into the understanding between the French company and Shaik was a guarantee of future participation by Nkobi Invesments, Shaik's company, in Thomson's local business ventures.

Deputy President Jacob Zuma was allegedly a secret shareholder of Nkobi. As minister of economic affairs and tourism in KwaZulu-Natal, Zuma had the airports in his portfolio in concurrence with the minister of public enterprises.

Over the period, Nkobi and Thomson had a number of joint ventures.

"Apart from being joint venture partners in obtaining the award of the national contract for the driver's licence and their partnership in respect of the corvette bid, planned future ventures would include the Durban airport, the ID card, the N3 and N4 projects, the third cellular telephone network, other military deals and smart card technology.

With acknowledgements to Thami Ngidi and The Mercury.