Shaik: I'll sort you out

The not-so-sunny side of Schabir Shaik was on display yesterday when he verbally attacked a member of the prosecution team.

"I'm not scared of you. I'll sort you out after the trial. You are a racist, get that into your thick skull. You will be running from me like Bulelani [Ngcuka]," Shaik shouted at prosecutor Anton Steynberg before the day's proceedings began.

The outburst came after Steynberg intervened as Shaik asked investigating officer Johan du Plooy why he contacted one of his employees when the state's case is over.

Steynberg told Shaik he is not allowed to talk to members of the prosecution, including the investigating officers. "In fact, I should not be talking to you right now," he said.

Shaik then exploded into a fury and shouted at Steynberg in front of the media and court officials.

Prosecutor Billy Downer SC told Judge Hillary Squires of the incident and indicated that the state wants to apply to have Shaik's bail conditions amended to prevent him from "threatening, swearing at or insulting members of the prosecution".

Shaik's advocate, Francois van Zyl SC, sprang up to defend his client, saying the prosecution tried to contact Nkobi Holdings employees directly instead of first consulting him.

Squires advised Downer to bring a formal bail application, as he wanted to press on with the trial.

It is believed that during the lunch adjournment Shaik apologised to Steynberg and plans to formally place his apology on record on Monday.

Meanwhile, the fourth defence witness said that behind the scenes wheeling and dealing with politicians to win arms contracts is common practice around the world.

Pierre Moynot, former head of Thomson-CSF South Africa who is now stationed at the French arms company's head office in Paris, said arms companies need to "cosy up" to high-ranking politicians.

"Everyone in the same type of business as us does it. It happens all over the world. It is required but there is a need for getting to know high-ranking politicians," he said.

During cross-examination, he explained: "The decision [on arms purchases] is always made by the politicians".

When asked what he understands by the term political connectivity, Moynot said it means getting closer to politicians, and that Shaik is not the only one who "knew people".

Earlier, Moynot said he wrote to former Mkhonto Wesizwe commander Joe Modise in the early 1990s because he speculated that Modise might be the next defence minister, and Thomson-CSF needed to introduce themselves to him.

He explained his involvement with Shaik's company when they worked under the umbrella of African Defence Systems and said that at one stage his head office was informed that Shaik was a bad choice for a black economic empowerment partner as "Mandela and Mr Thabo [Mbeki] disliked him". The accusation later proved to be false.

He said he does not know the principles of BEE but he does know that "anyone who is not a white male is black".

Moynot was questioned about the service provider agreement that the state claims was to disguise the alleged annual R500 000 bribe from Thomson-CSF to Deputy President Jacob Zuma for his protection from the probe into the arms deal. He said he knew nothing about it. He also said he knew nothing about the infamous encrypted fax.

With acknowledgements to Nivashni Nair and The Natal Witness.