"The Deputy President is not on trial." — Judge Hillary Squires.

"Mao Tse Tung is said to have said that a journey of a thousand miles starts with a first step. You can take that first step after tea time." — Judge Squires to Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Billy Downer.

"Our case deals with power exercised in informal ways." — Billy Downer.

"I plead not guilty, My Lord ... to all such charges levelled at me." — The only words that accused Schabir Shaik uttered during the trial this week.

"Zuma confided in me that he had serious financial problems and that he was considering leaving politics. I was concerned that such a move on his part may adversely effect the relative peace the province was experiencing and I implored him not to leave politics. As a close friend I was also prepared to do what I could to assist him." — Schabir Shaik in his written not-guilty plea.

"He [Schabir Shaik] asked me what do I think about him becoming a director-general under Jacob Zuma so I told him that he is the wrong person because he is undisciplined.

"You know he goes to bed at three or four in the morning and he wakes up at 11 and goes to the mosque so he can't fit in there." — Themba Sono, former Nkobi Holdings executive director, in his Section 28 statement to the Scorpions.

"International companies were not interested in black economic empowerment. What they were interested in was those black folks who could open doors." — Themba Sono

"Schabir Shaik was king of the hill." — Themba Sono.

With acknowledgement to the Sunday Times.