Durban businessman Schabir Shaik finally took the stand in his fraud and corruption trial on Monday and gave a glimpse of the many roles he played over the years.

Those roles included being a family man, an anti-apartheid activist, a loyal friend, financial adviser and a businessman.

Shaik the family man gave up his career as instrument technician and lecturer at the Peninsula Technikon to return home to Durban when his father suffered a heart attack following the arrest of his brothers by apartheid security forces.

Shaik, who initially looked nervous at the start of his testimony and constantly played with his glasses, said it was a decision by the friend he made during the struggle, Jacob Zuma, which led to his brothers' arrest.

However, "I don't believe Zuma knew the gravity of his decision."

Shaik said his brothers Mo and Yunus were actively involved in the anti-apartheid struggle and that Mo had introduced him to Zuma in London.

Shaik, the anti-apartheid activist, was later tasked with serving as a "conduit" to transfer money, which the African National Congress received from donors, between London and South Africa.

He told the court that he and Mo frequently travelled out of the country with false passports.

Shaik, the loyal friend, told the court that he presumed that Zuma was head of intelligence for the ANC outside the country and that the highly confidential information they shared also strengthened their friendship. "We literally placed our lives in Zuma's hands."

Shaik told the court that after the unbanning of the ANC in 1990 the relationship between him and Zuma "solidified further."

He said their families interacted especially over religious periods like Christmas, as well as over weekends.

"My dad and Mr Zuma were very close," said Shaik.

He said that during 1994 he not only helped Zuma with transport but his family also extended financial support to the now deputy president.

He said Zuma was one of the first people to return to South Africa in 1990 after 33 years in exile.

Shaik said at the deputy president was currently 70 *1, which meant he was in his late 50s when he returned home.

According to the ANC website www.anc.org.za/people/zumaj.html, Zuma was born in April 1942 which means he is currently 63 *1 and he was in exile between 1975 and 1990 which was a period of 15 years.

Shaik said at that stage he had a home, cars and a good standard of living and he wanted the same for Zuma.

He said he wanted to "empower *2" Zuma so that he could be "independent."

Shaik's advocate, Francois van Zyl, SC, asked him what he thought of allegations that he had tried to bribe Zuma.

Shaik said this clearly did not reflect the relationship they had.

It was also Zuma who introduced Shaik, the businessman, to the late Thomas Nkobi, who was formerly the treasurer-general of the ANC.

Shaik accompanied Nkobi to Malaysia and even lived there for several months.

That was because Nkobi was interested in the empowerment model set up by Malaysia's ruling party and wanted to see it fit in with his vision for South Africa.

However, then-deputy president Thabo Mbeki later advised Shaik to embark on the empowerment plans independently and not to involve the ANC in the business plans as envisioned by Nkobi.

Shaik also told the court how he came into a substantial amount of money through his involvement with the Malaysian company, Remong.

He cashed in two million shares at Nedbank which he received due to his involvement in Malaysian businesses and received a payout of R1 million.

The court also heard how the ANC was "always looking for money" and how Shaik felt "almost duty bound" to help the party. He said on many occasions he was asked to pay the rent or accommodation of party members and he regarded this as a contribution to the ANC.

This included rent for Zuma who was forced to live in Mellington (sic - Malington) Court in Durban for security reasons.

On Monday Shaik said one of his companies, Floryn Investments, had been set up to channel contributions to the party. However, the ANC had no shareholding in any of his companies.

For the first time the court also heard that apart from being Zuma's personal financial advisor, he also served as economic advisor to Zuma when he was still MEC for Economic Affairs and Tourism in Durban.

The trial continues.

With acknowledgements to Wendy Jasson da Costa and Sapa.

*1  Fast and loose with the facts.

*2  Logic and Causation II

Politicians have power - they then empower certain of the electorate.

Certain of the electorate then enrich politicians.

Or have I got this all mixed up?