With admirable speed and efficiency, the State put its cast of witnesses through their paces at the Durban High Court. As they are about to wrap up the prosecution's case, Special Writer Estelle Ellis looks at some of the personalities who have taken the stand - and those who have not

The judge: Hilary Squires - Judge Squires - walked into court with his hands in his pockets, surveying those present. He did not like it if his court did not start on time. He took no nonsense. He had a way of swinging his glasses in a little circle while listening. He was nice to most witnesses. He made people laugh. He is still refusing to say how old he is, but most of the time he had more energy than anybody else in the courtroom.

Those not charged Deputy President Jacob Zuma: The only thing he had to say (in parliament) was that he did not consider the revelations at the trial to be a blot on the moral regeneration campaign.

Alain Thetard: the volatile former director of French arms company Thomson and writer of the fax setting out an alleged bribe agreement between himself, Zuma and Shaik. He is refusing to come to South Africa. The court heard a lot about him, especially his tendency to throw things at his secretaries.

The secretaries Bianca Singh: Shaik's former secretary testified in the company of bodyguards. The pretty young woman described the close relationship between Zuma and Shaik - both in terms of friendship and money.

Sue Delique: Thetard's former secretary had two bodyguards. She found the handwritten fax setting out an alleged bribe agreement between Shaik, Zuma and Thetard. She also found the disk on which she saved the typed version, and gave it to the Scorpions.

Marion Marais: another of Thetard's former secretaries, Marais was confident, relating what she knew about her former boss. It was she who told the court about his tendency to throw things when agitated. She told the court that Thetard sought the audience of influential people and was excited to meet Zuma.

The auditors Johan van der Walt: a forensic auditor from KPMG. He spent 16 days in the witness stand detailing how he followed the paper trail of Shaik's dealings and what he concluded from it. As a seasoned expert witness he came armed with throat lozenges, a sense of humour and unshakeable confidence that he was right in some respects. His report was almost 300 pages long and the supporting evidence was filed in more than 20 lever arch files. He was assisted by another forensic auditor, Riaan Beekman.

Ahmed Paruk: this soft-spoken witness appeared uncomfortable. He was the auditing partner at David Strachan & Tayler, responsible for writing off R1,2 million in loans to Shaik in Nkobi's books. He said Shaik had instructed him to do so.

Anthony Gibb: Gibb was the auditing clerk who effected the write-off. When he first gave evidence he forgot to wear a jacket. The next day he remembered.

Government auditor James Edward van Heerden: he came to explain their review of the arms deal. He said their conclusion was that there were deviations from the accepted arms acquisition practices, with no plausible explanation. He told the court their conclusions were that there should be a special investigation or forensic audit focusing on the involvement of contractors and subcontractors in the deal.

Gary Parker and David Read: the two auditors came to tell of their meeting with a frightened Sue Delique and how they thought she was a disgruntled employee.

The bookkeeper Celia Bester: fluctuating between her obvious passion to do what was right and extreme nervousness, Nkobi's former bookkeeper caused sparks in her evidence. She said that money paid to a number of government ministers were written off in Nkobi's books.

The bank officials John Dwyer: With his dark suit and slightly hesitant, clipped tones, Dwyer told the court why they accepted Shaik and Zuma as members of Absa's prestigious private bank.

Brenda Madgwick: Madgwick, who handled Zuma and Shaik's applications, seemed concerned when the State asked the court to disregard her evidence and confronted her with a statement in which she said something different to what she told the court.

Ian MacLeod: the former Absa credit manager seemed comfortable in the witness stand and adamant that he had concluded that both Shaik and Zuma were very high-risk clients for Absa's private bank to take on.

Gerhardus Pretorius: Pretorius was a senior Absa trust official who managed the Jacob Zuma Education Trust. It was clear that he meant what he said when he told the court that it was in his nature to take meticulous notes.

Heath Investigating Unit The judge: in rapid tones, slightly defensive but mostly without much emotion, former judge Willem Heath came to tell of how his unit was barred from investigating the arms deal.

The right-hand men: With the dispassion of seasoned legal minds, Gerhard Visagie and Jannie Lubbe echoed his sentiments, leaving no other impression than that they have concluded that a great wrong had been committed against their unit.

The politicians Patricia de Lille: it was with more restraint than her usual public appearances that the president of the Independent Democrats, Patricia de Lille, took the witness stand. She told the court she hoped that the arms deal would be investigated. "I was ostracised, but I did it for the people of the country. I wanted to assist government to root out the few bad apples."

Gavin Woods: The former head of the parliamentary standing committee on public accounts spoke with renewed agitation at the letter Zuma wrote to him which effectively sidelined his committee.

Professor Themba Sono: he was called as the State's first witness. He took obvious joy in giving evidence, explaining in detail that Shaik told partners in business deals that the Nkobi group could bring "political connectivity" to the table. He is now in the Gauteng legislature.

Other witnesses Tracy O'Brian: O'Brian's many surnames at times confused the court. Through successive marriages she was known as Tracy Brown, Tracy Zapolsky, Tracy Endwhistle and now she has started using her maiden name, O'Brian, again. The pretty witness had some heads turning as she came to court to testify that she sublet a flat to Shaik. Shaik told her that it was for his financial director. She later discovered that Zuma lived there when there were complaints about bodyguards with guns. Shaik or one of his companies paid the rent, but it was always late. She terminated the lease.

Abdool Qadir Mangerah: He explained that he was a close friend of Zuma. He lent the deputy president R154 000. When Zuma could not pay him back, Shaik did. He said that all he expected in return was "prayers for (his) good health".

Professor John Lennon, Caledonian University in Glasgow: slightly jet-lagged and very much in a hurry, Lennon flew to South Africa for a day to tell the court in beautiful English that Zuma advised him to use Nkobi as the South African partner for a proposed eco-tourism school. When he seemed hesitant Shaik threatened to derail the proposal and tell Zuma. A feasibility study for the project was canned after the UK government refused an application for funding.

The trial continues on January 31. It is expected that the State will wrap up its case early in the new session.

With acknowledgements to Estelle Ellis and the Cape Argus.