Papers presented in court to demonstrate Shaik's alleged formula of arranging meetings for business associates with ANC top brass

As the state began winding down its case against corruption accused Schabir Shaik this week, prosecutors presented new evidence that appeared to be driving the final nail into Deputy President Jacob Zuma's coffin.

A series of letters written by Shaik and other people, among them his father-in-law, paint a fresh picture of Shaik using Zuma's name in trying to secure his business interests.

Some also point towards Zuma actively acting on behalf of Shaik, setting up meetings for Shaik's prospective business partners and having meetings with them himself. They also illustrate what prosecutor Billy Downer describes as "the spectre of power and influence over people in high places" that Shaik claimed to wield.

The state claims, in summary, that Zuma acted on Shaik's behalf and protected him and his business partners Thompson-CSF (now Thint) in return for a series of payments and the promise of two bribes of R500000.

One of the documents introduced by Scorpions investigators this week was a letter to Shaik from his father-in-law, Ahmed Sadiq Vahed, dated December 13 1997 — just days before Zuma was elected ANC deputy president at the party's national conference in Mafikeng.

The letter reads: "When your friend becomes Deputy President — you will be in the pound seat."

A second series of letters indicates that Shaik used Zuma to set up a meeting between British businessman Grant Scriven, himself and Steve Tshwete, who was then the Safety and Security Minister, for Shaik and Scriven to make a pitch for privatising South Africa's police motor vehicle fleet.

In one, dated October 5 2000, Shaik tells Zuma he would appreciate Zuma "communicating to [Tshwete] on our behalf to secure a meeting".

In another, sent in May 2001, Shaik berates Tshwete for failing to communicate with him ahead of the meeting with Scriven, saying that he, Shaik, had been "forced to cover up the inefficiencies of our public offices and its [sic] failure to communicate".

A subsequent letter from Scriven to Shaik has a different tone. In it, Scriven speaks of the enthusiastic reception he received from Tshwete, Zuma and Mac Maharaj.

"Bear hugs from the DP at the ‘Party' in front of the Cabinet and 2000 great and good of South Africa," the handwritten note reads. "Consumption of the President's dinner in front of the finance minister and a few other notables. Nearly squeezed to death in Dublin central station by ‘Mac the Knife' [Maharaj]. And now transport and police minister adopting my family," the letter reads.

Significantly, Scriven's note, dated July 11 2001, concludes: "I think I can safely say I am in. Let's talk."

Other letters to businessmen from Kuwait and Nigeria reflect a similar approach.

In March 2000 Shaik wrote to Hakeem Belo-Osagie of United Bank for Africa in Lagos, offering him a private meeting with Zuma either in Durban or Pretoria in April 2000. A response from Belo-Osagie on April 7 accepts this invitation to meet Zuma, who is the chairman of the South Africa Nigeria Bi-National Commission.

A follow-up letter to Shaik on April 14 confirms the meeting took place and suggests that Belo- Osagie and Shaik "structure a deal carefully and properly so that you do not give away all that you have worked so long and hard for".

Further correspondence between Shaik and US businessman Ronald Coopersmith about the creation of an "Nkobi Bank" dates from May 1999. Coopersmith is told that Shaik expected at least R800-million a year from Zuma in his then capacity as Economic Affairs and Tourism MEC for KwaZulu-Natal. Shaik told Coopersmith he had a "better than equal" chance of getting the money from Zuma's ministry.

An October 1999 letter to Kuwaiti businessman Fouad Alghanim from Shaik also speaks of his connection with Zuma, stating: "Politically, my close friend and long-time political comrade (25 years) has been appointed Deputy President of South Africa, Mr Jacob Zuma. He has appointed me as his special economic adviser and I am indeed honoured to work with this man who is the second most influential person within the African National Congress party."

The letter offers Alghanim a meeting with Zuma, who Shaik says shares a "long-time common economic goal to establish an investment bank".

One document not yet made public is an affidavit by Renong employee David Wilson attesting to attempts by Zuma to intervene on Shaik's behalf in the Point Waterfront deal. Malaysian firm Renong had wanted to do business with Mzi Khumalo, but Shaik had demanded a cut.

Wilson's affidavit was ordered sealed by Judge Hillary Squires until after argument on its admissibility is concluded.

With acknowledgements to Paddy Harper and the Sunday Times.