Another furore has blown up around corruption accused Schabir Shaik, after he revealed that he often meets Deputy President Jacob Zuma to discuss his trial.

Although the prosecution authorities have said they have enough prima facie evidence to charge Zuma over allegations that he and Shaik solicited bribes for influence during the arms procurement process, they have not done so.

Zuma has emerged as a central figure during Shaik's Durban High Court trial, and his name has been repeatedly mentioned by witnesses and on documents submitted as evidence.

Neither the state nor the defence has called him as a witness.

Shaik admitted on 702 Talk Radio yesterday that he discussed his trial with Zuma whenever they found themselves in the same city.

He also slammed the media as a "fourth force *1" determined to discredit himself and Zuma. The "fourth force" included elements within the ANC, some opposition parties, and business interests who wanted to prevent Zuma from becoming the next president.

"Also, this isn't a president-to-be that's a dictator - this is a president who is level-headed, who cares for the needy, who is a people's president. And who doesn't fulfil the agenda of certain interests, and they want to take him down," Shaik said.

He described state advocate Billy Downer, the lead prosecutor, as a "pawn in this political fiasco that is going on, and I hope he realises soon that his former boss (Bulelani Ngcuka, the former national director of public prosecutions), who started this whole thing, is now in the pound seats at Sanlam".

Shaik said he had met Zuma on Saturday and Sunday and had discussed the case with him, adding that this was normal because they were friends and took the opportunity to meet whenever they could.

Zuma also had two lawyers in court as observers, he revealed.

"Whenever we meet, we provide him (Zuma) with updates from our perspective *2," Shaik added.

Opposition parties yesterday described Shaik's regular meetings with Zuma as "extraordinary", but were divided over the implications that two men closely linked to the same alleged offence could meet without fear of sanction.

In his final argument, Downer said the state had proved beyond reasonable doubt that Shaik solicited bribes from French arms company Thomson-CSF (now renamed Thint) on behalf of Zuma.

Advocate Francois van Zyl SC, for Shaik, commenced with final argument for the defence on Friday. He was due to continue today.

The National Directorate of Public Prosecutions has said it would reconsider charging Zuma if Shaik was found guilty.

Sheila Camerer, spokesperson on legal affairs for the Democratic Alliance, said yesterday that Shaik's statement that he discussed the case regularly with Zuma was "extraordinary".

"But there are so many extraordinary things about this trial. The DA believes Deputy President Zuma also should have been joined (as an accused). He should take the opportunity to come to court to clear his name.

"He has withheld from doing that and seems to wish to operate through a surrogate, if Shaik can be believed - clearly, he has admitted that he lied; his employees have said he lied.

"So it's very difficult to know when he's lying *3 and when he's telling the truth," Camerer said.

If Zuma had discussed the case with Shaik, it was "clearly not appropriate", she added.

Meanwhile Bantu Holomisa, the leader of the United Democratic Movement, yesterday said the decision to allow Zuma to remain in office had compromised South Africa. It would have been better for Zuma to have taken long leave or a sabbatical during the trial, he said.

Shaik's statements in and out of court had compromised the deputy presidency "and he continues to do so. Was it really necessary for him to say to 702 that he discusses these things with the deputy president? It doesn't make sense," Holomisa said.

Referring to Zuma, he added: "Why the government continues to keep someone suspected like this in power escapes my logic, I'm sorry."

Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille said it would be best to await the outcome of the trial and then to see whether the Directorate of Public Prosecutions charged Zuma.

ANC spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama refused to comment, saying the matter was sub judice.

With acknowledgements to Alameen Templeton and The Star.

*1 It seems that this fourth force could be of brigade or even division strength; consisting of the equivalents of artillery, armour and infantry.

However, so far most of us should easily be forgiven for concluding The Force to consist of intelligence, reconnaissance and psy-ops.

Bite more - bark less.

*2 In the singular - like joined at the hip - like co-joined siblings (aka Siamese twins).

*3 It's not actually difficult - the answer is that most of the time he's telling neither the truth, nor the whole truth, nor nothing but the truth.