Cape Town - The furore over leaked information on the Scorpions' probe into Deputy President Jacob Zuma and the multi-billion rand arms deal continued on Monday, with the Sunday Times newspaper adamant about protecting its sources.

In another development, the official opposition urged the Scorpions to conclude their investigation into Zuma as soon as possible.

"It is highly problematic to have such a dark cloud hanging over the second highest executive office in the country," Democratic Alliance spokesperson Hendrik Schmidt said.

In a statement to Sapa, Sunday Times editor Mathatha Tsedu denied that Justice Minister Penuell Maduna had approached the paper about questions to Zuma from the Scorpions, which it published at the weekend.

"Through the Vuyo Mbuli show on SAfm (the SABC's flagship English radio station) ... this (Monday) morning it was stated ... Maduna had said he was convinced that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions is not responsible for leaking questions (to Zuma) that were published in the Sunday Times this past weekend.

"He is also reported to have stated that the Sunday Times can confirm this.

"We want to place on record that Mr Maduna has not spoken to the Sunday Times about this matter and that no such assurance can or was given by the Sunday Times to him or anyone else.

Witchhunt

"The Sunday Times will neither confirm nor deny any list of names that may be produced by anyone as possible sources of the information.

"Indeed, we are baffled by the witchhunt for the source as no one has denied the veracity of the information we published," Tsedu said.

Schmidt said National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka should explain what he was doing to ensure that the leak of information was sealed, and that whoever was responsible for the leak was disciplined.

"At the very least, the Integrity Management Unit - the Scorpions' statutory watchdog - should initiate an inquiry into this unacceptable breach of confidentiality."

The Scorpions unit (the common name for the Directorate of Special Investigations) was set up as an elite body in Ngcuka's office to tackle organised crime and high-level corruption.

The leaking of details of the Scorpions' investigation demeaned the unit and undermined the public's confidence in its ability to conduct its investigations independently, and without fear or favour.

The only motivation for leaking details of the investigation "is a political one".

Considering Ngcuka himself had admitted to being the target of a political campaign because of the investigation of Zuma, he should take special care to ensure that the investigation was conducted in a discrete and professional manner.

"He must not only be impartial. He must also be seen to be impartial," Schmidt said.

Motives questioned

Zuma has questioned the Scorpions' motives in allowing the newspaper sight of 35 questions he was asked to answer in connection with his alleged misconduct.

"I find it totally unacceptable and despicable that questions that they sent to me have appeared in a Sunday newspaper.

"This is a serious breach of confidentiality and is contrary to the spirit and terms of the National Prosecuting Authority Act, relating to the confidentiality of information received and disseminated.

"I am now consulting with my lawyers with regard to the conduct of the (National) Directorate (of Public Prosecutions) and the nature of my response to this situation," he said.

Zuma said he had remained silent regarding the allegations against him - that he tried to solicit R500 000 from a company which benefited from the arms deal, in return he offered to protect it during subsequent investigations - and had expected respect in return.

"For more than three years, I have chosen to maintain my silence as I felt that would allow the investigators space to continue with the probe unhindered," he said.

"Despite my silence ... there have been constant leaks of information to the media which were clearly designed to cast aspersions on my integrity," he said.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and News24.