Details of meeting between Shaik, deputy president and Thetard

How a cup of tea and a talk about education in rural KwaZulu Natal could translate into an agreement to pay a bribe was beyond him, Deputy President Jacob Zuma's financial adviser Schabir Shaik has told the Durban High Court.

"Zuma and I had from time to time attempted to fathom what had possessed (French arms company boss Alain Thetard) to write this," Shaik said yesterday, staring at the infamous encrypted fax allegedly setting out a bribe agreement between Zuma and the French.

Shaik has pleaded not guilty to two charges of corruption and one of fraud.

Reading the fax, Shaik said:

"I cannot understand why Zuma would make an encoded declaration (to accept a bribe), and he (Zuma) did not."

Since the introduction of a short break in the afternoon session, Shaik seemed in much higher spirits. When state advocate Anton Steynberg came into court with his sunglasses on, Shaik promptly took his out of the pocket of his elegant suit and placed them on his nose, to the amusement of those in court.

It was shortly after this break that Shaik's counsel, Francois van Zyl SC, said the time had come to talk about the fax.

Shaik testified that in February 2000 he asked for a meeting with Thetard about "our understanding with Zuma and issues raised". This, he said, referred to a meeting he had had with Thetard in September the previous year, where they also discussed other subjects dealing with their joint ventures.

Thetard wrote back, saying he would like to meet with Shaik.

A meeting was scheduled in Durban for March 11 2000. Shaik said it was planned that Zuma would be present at the meeting as well, so that he could tell the French why they should give money to the Jacob Zuma Education Trust.

"My relationship with the French was becoming increasingly distrusting ... I did not want the French to think 'Here is Shaik again - he is asking for money'."

"So you wanted them to hear it from the horse's mouth?" Judge Hilary Squires asked.

Shaik said that was exactly what he wanted.

He told the court that the meeting was, however, held a day earlier because Zuma had another engagement and had to leave early on the morning of March 11.

"The meeting took place at the official residence of the deputy president, King's House. It was me, Thetard and Zuma. It was late afternoon or early evening. I picked Thetard up from the Holiday Inn, which was close to my apartment."

"Just the three of us were there. I introduced Thetard to Zuma. Zuma said he appreciated us moving the meeting a day earlier. I informed Zuma that I had spoken to Thetard and (Thomson's Jean-Paul) Perrier and impressed on Thetard to consider a donation to the Jacob Zuma Education Trust."

"Zuma then spoke about the trust and how education is a luxury in his hometown of Nkandla. Zuma spoke a little about the students who would benefit. Thetard said he appreciated the feedback."

"Thetard did not say it was impossible. He said he would speak to his senior management. He was happy that it was for a just cause. The meeting was short. Zuma gets edgy if he runs short of time. It was between 20 and 25 minutes. We had our tea. Then we left."

"Thetard was happy during the drive back. He had met Zuma at last. He was satisfied by Zuma's request. Even at that stage he did not say that it would be impossible."

A week later Shaik met with Thetard and Yann de Jomaronn, of French arms company Thomson, in Pretoria.

"We had tea and sandwiches together. I used this meeting to communicate my frustration with Thomson to De Jomaronn."

He said Thetard said nothing about the donation for the Jacob Zuma Education Trust. He admitted to having written a letter saying that all his company was considered to be good for was "to hand out money for donations".

"The only time I found the French amenable to assist was when I went to them for money for the Mbeki Trust Fund and the Mandela Trust Fund." *1

He said he had referred in this letter to "another shareholder" but had actually been talking about himself.

"If the French discovered through their business intelligence that the ANC or Zuma had a nominee shareholding, I doubt that I would have received such paltry treatment," Shaik said.

"Beware of the French," he told the court.

The trial continues.

With acknowledgements to Estelle Ellis and The Star.

*1 Just why were the French (was this also Thomson-CSF?) giving money to the Mbeki Trust Fund and the Mandela Trust Fund?

Is this also bribery and corruption?

In the light of all the meetings held between Thomson-CSF, Mbeki and Mandela, this doesn't sound kosher to me.

Or is Shaik lying (again)?