But a number of political commentators and analysts believe the eight weeks of the trial, now in recess, was one of the most important political events of the year, if not the most significant.

Among their reasons are that the case highlights how our new political elite enrich themselves and that the outcome, as well as perceptions of the trial, may have important ramifications for a decision on who should succeed President Thabo Mbeki.

Although Judge Hillary Squires said from the outset that Deputy President Jacob Zuma was not on trial, his name appeared on virtually every page of the charge sheet, while most testimonies referred to his relationship to Shaik.

The state alleged a "general corrupt relationship" between Shaik and Zuma and that the deputy president was "on retainer for Shaik". One of the main corruption charges is that Shaik solicited a bribe from a French arms company for Zuma in return for the deputy president's protection in the arms deal investigation.

Shaik pleaded not guilty and while acknowledging a relationship with Zuma, said it was not a corrupt one. He said the payments (totalling R1,2 million) made to Zuma were loans and a "loan agreement" was later produced.

Human Sciences Research Council political analyst Adam Habib said the trial showed up many of the contradictions within government and the "battle for the heart and soul of the ANC" playing out in the tripartite alliance.

"The Shabir Shaik trial was the most interesting (political event of the year) without a doubt, because it has such significant implications about who would succeed (Mbeki) and who doesn't," Habib said. "Zuma is quite popular on the ground. But whatever happens at the Shaik trail, I think his credibility has been tainted.

"That does suggest that there is potential for a dark horse to succeed (as president)."

Institute for Democracy in South Africa (Idasa) analyst Judith February believes the significance of the trial relates to contentious debates about the limits of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE).

"Many of the themes of debate this year was whether politics is about money," February said.

"It is about perceptions of what the ANC is and who it represents. It is also about the ANC itself and a struggle inside about whose interests it will represent.

"Is it the interests of big business or of the little people?"

Idasa brings a legal challenge early next year to force political parties to reveal their sponsors, an issue in which South Africa is lagging far behind international transparency surveys.

"The problems around BEE deals raise important questions about the revolving door and the blurring of party and state as well as conflicts of interests," February added.

She was referring to the recent outcry over 15,1% of Telkom shares going to a consortium of an elite with close ANC ties suggesting a "revolving door" style enrichment.

The Shaik trial also had its origins in an investigation into conflicts of interest between Shaik's arms deal sub-contract and his brother Chippy's role as chief state arms procurer. *1

"One positive thing is that the government is reviewing the executive code of ethics and looking at post-employment restrictions to stop the revolving doors," she said.

Academic and Social Movements' spokesperson Dale McKinley, said the ongoing saga about Zuma's alleged involvement coming out in the Shaik overshadowed other political events.

"(The trial's revelations) foretell in some ways the ability of the new elite and state to enrich themselves and dispense patronage and get away with it,"McKinley said.

But he is nevertheless somewhat sympathetic to the deputy president. Also referring to the multi-million rand Telkom deals, he said: "What Zuma has done is small fry" compared to such "inside deals *2".

"There is all this tension around Zuma and the real big fish are getting away. It's what happens in the United States, they catch the guys that are vulnerable and the big ones get off the hook."

University of Stellenbosch political science head Amanda Gouws said the Shaik trial was important because "it just gives us an idea of how deep this sort of thing went and how dire Zuma's financial situation was".

This week the Democratic Alliance report card for the government charged that Zuma had an "abysmal" year dominated by "embarrassing revelations".

With acknowledgement to Christelle Terreblanche and Cape Argus.

*1  Viva.

*2   Stooge 3 had Big Fish Thint (Pty) Ltd (Thomson-CSF) line, sinker and treble hook embedded deep in the snout and he let them free. This sounds to me like the "insider deal" of the millennium so far.

Not only did this deal, brokered by Kessie Naidu SC, let this serial corrupter and briber off the treble hook, but this is now making the task of the State's prosecution team much more difficult in getting a conviction in respect of Count 3 against Accused 1 to 12 (except 11) in Case Number CC27/04 in the High Court of South Africa (Durban & Coast Local Division).