It was Deputy President Jacob Zuma who helped "anxious" Durban businessman Schabir Shaik when his French business connections faltered, because President Thabo Mbeki had allegedly indicated that Shaik was not a suitable black economic empowerment partner.

This is what Shaik will testify at his trial for corruption and fraud, his senior counsel Francois van Zyl SC said yesterday. Shaik has pleaded not guilty to two charges of corruption and another of fraud, relating mostly to his relationship with Zuma.

The court heard yesterday that Shaik would admit to another two meetings between Zuma and French arms dealers, mostly about sorting out the black economic empowerment deal concerning African Defence Systems.

The drama, according to documentation before court, started when French arms company Thomson-CSF cut Shaik out of their business dealings because Mbeki had indicated that Shaik's Nkobi group of companies was an unsuitable black economic empowerment partner.

The court also heard yesterday that there are documents indicating that Zuma met at least once more with the French arms dealers. But forensic auditor Johan van der Walt said there could have been even more meetings.

Van Zyl said that in 1998 Shaik had heard rumours that Mbeki had apparently indicated that he and his group of companies were not suitable partners for black economic empowerment.

Van der Walt replied that Zuma had told Shaik about the Mbeki allegations.

Van Zyl then explained that Shaik wrote an open letter to Thomson to put an end to the rumours. This finally culminated in a meeting between Pierre Moynot of Thomson, Shaik and Zuma in London. This meeting took place during an official trip that Zuma made to Scotland.

The meeting, Van Zyl explained, was successful and "Thomson's fears were laid to rest".

Van der Walt will spend his 15th day in the witness box today.

With acknowledgements to Estelle Ellis and the Cape Argus.