President Thabo Mbeki is resolute in his support for high court Justice Sisi Khampepe, the commissioner he appointed last month to decide the future of the Scorpions - this despite disclosures at the weekend that Khampepe's husband has business links that could be seen as constituting a possible conflict of interests.

A Sunday newspaper has reported that Khampepe's husband, Siza, is a director of Kgorong Investment Holdings, a partner of Reutech Radar Systems, a company awarded a multimillion-rand contract under the controversial arms deal.

A fellow Kgorong director, attorney Julekha Mahomed, has links with several prominent political figures who have been at loggerheads with the Scorpions.

Mahomed is a former legal adviser to Deputy President Jacob Zuma and, according to the companies' register, a business partner in another enterprise, Enable Mining, with the former chief of defence acquisitions, Shamin "Chippy" Shaik, and his lawyer brother Younis.

The Cape Times can disclose that, according to the companies' register, Siza Cecil Khampepe is linked through no fewer than five enterprises with Mahomed.

Mahomed represented Foreign Affairs official and former intelligence boss Mo Shaik and former Transport Minister Mac Maharaj at the Hefer Commission of Inquiry.

This commission examined Shaik's claim that the then-National Director of Public Prosecutions, Bulelani Ngcuka, was an apartheid spy - a claim it found was probably not true.

More recently, Mahomed was called as a defence witness in the trial of Schabir Shaik.

She is listed as a director or member of more than 30 companies and close corporations. These include Kgorong Investment Holdings, where she serves alongside ANC luminaries such as former Armscor supremo Danisa Baloyi.

A series of black empowerment equity deals has seen Kgorong Investment Holdings acquire a significant stake in Reutech Radar systems, a joint venture between arms deal beneficiary EADS and South African weapons manufacturer Reunert Limited, as well as in Reunert Defence Logistics.

According to Reunert, Kgorong has also acquired a 25.1% stake in telecommunications cable manufacturer ATC. Reunert Radar Systems reportedly has EADS subcontracts worth nearly R300 million, while the telecommunications acquisition could place the company well ahead in the establishing of a new fixed-line telephone provider.

Other companies where Mahomed and Khampepe are listed as co-directors include Khayalethu Home Loans, a government-sponsored home loan agency, Insulated Wall Panels Afrika Holdings, Home Ownership and Hlano Capital.

Several of these companies are quasi-government empowerment initiatives or strongly backed by the government as advancing the interests of black economic empowerment.

No company linked to Khampepe or Mahomed is under investigation by the Scorpions.

The conduct of the Scorpions' probe into aspects of the arms deal has been a major reason for the crime-fighting outfit attracting prominent enemies.

The justice ministry declined at the weekend to respond to questions about a possible conflict of interests, referring all queries to the office of the president.

Presidential spokesman Bheki Khumalo said yesterday Mbeki had no reason to doubt the integrity of Judge Khampepe and that he was convinced she would carry out her job to the best of her abilities and act impartially.

Khumalo said issues of individuals' friendships or business partnerships and whether they were viewed as belonging to rival camps were of no interest whatsoever to the president.

But some politicians and analysts were less convinced.

They expressed concern that however impartial the judge was, there lurked a danger of a perceived conflict of interests.

Gavin Woods, former chairman of the standing committee on public accounts, said there was room for concern about a possible conflict of interests.

UDM leader Bantu Holomisa said if the reports were true, Judge Khampepe faced a difficult situation. She should probably stand back in favour of someone else, but if she dug in her heels, the judge could show her professionalism.

With acknowledgements to Chiara Carter and the Cape Times.