Durban businessman Schabir Shaik paid the rent on an apartment for Deputy President Jacob Zuma and bought furniture for Zuma's million-rand home.

This was the evidence by Tracy O'Brian in the Durban High Court this morning. Shaik has pleaded not guilty to two charges of corruption and one of fraud. The bulk of the allegations against him deal with the relationship between Shaik and Zuma.

O'Brian told the court that she had rented a flat in Mallington (sic - Malington) Place and had then advertised it as a sub-let. Shaik had responded, saying he wanted to put one of his directors, Colin Isaacs, in it.

Later O'Brian had discovered that Zuma was living there after the body corporate phoned her to ask about the body guard with guns that escorted him in and out of the building.

O'Brian said she had then written a letter to Shaik complaining that the rent was late. "Every month the rent was late. It was eventually always paid. Some of the cheques bounced, but it was always late."

She had subsequently terminated the sub-lease with Shaik. He had then bought some of the furniture. She had understood this to have been for Zuma's house in Zululand.

With acknowledgement to Estelle Ellis and the Cape Argus.