President Thabo Mbeki flies back home on Wednesday night, and if his presidential jet escapes turbulence on the journey from Mozambique, he has no chance of being as lucky when he lands.

Since his departure on Sunday for the Southern African Development Community summit in Dar es Salaam, the Jacob Zuma affair has escalated into a full-blown crisis that is now regarded as a serious threat not only to the deputy president but to the African National Congress and the presidency.

The latest developments will force Mbeki to make some tough decisions very quickly.

The charge sheet against Durban businessman Schabir Shaik says the ANC has a 10 percent stake in Shaik's Nkobi Holdings, which is at the centre of arms deal bribery allegations being investigated by the Scorpions.

Nkobi has a stake in African Defence Systems, which won a R1,3-billion share of the contract to supply new corvettes.

Zuma continued to protest his innocence, suggesting Shaik, his adviser, was responsible for his dire financial state.

Zuma's office said: "He has stated many times that Mr Shaik is his financial adviser and administers all his financial matters, including bank accounts."

Opposition leaders Tony Leon, Patrica de Lille and Bantu Holomisa stepped up their calls for Zuma's resignation.

Inkatha leader and Home Affairs Minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi said the electorate should vote against the ANC next year to send a message that corruption would not be tolerated.

"Our political class feel that they are there to stay. Therefore, it is essential that the next elections reverse this state of affairs by sending a message that things must change," he said.

Correspondence in the Shaik charge sheet revealed that Zuma did his utmost to keep the Heath anti-corruption unit out of the arms deal probe.

With acknowledgement to The Argus.