Professor John Lennon of the travel and tourism faculty at Glasgow Caledonian University said on Thursday his experiences with Schabir Shaik's Nkobi group had not tainted his view of South Africa.

Lennon jetted into the country on Thursday morning to give testimony in Shaik's fraud and corruption trial in the Durban High Court.

His evidence related to letters before the court which indicate that Shaik threatened to use his influence with Deputy President Jacob Zuma to stop Lennon from going ahead with the establishment of an eco-tourism school in KwaZulu-Natal unless Nkobi Holdings was the black economic empowerment partner.

Shaik had written a letter to Lennon asking him what role Nkobi would play in the school.

In reply, Lennon had written that there was still in the planning stage and that he would speak to his South African partners about Nkobi's role.

Lennon then received another letter from Nkobi in which Shaik said he was insulted, felt marginalised and expected a reply from Lennon within three days, otherwise he would go back to Zuma and speak to him about Lennon.

Describing the letter from Shaik as "unfortunately worded", defence advocate Francois van Zyl said one of the reasons Shaik was upset and felt marginalised was because the Nkobi group had been excluded from yet another project.

Lennon has completed his testimony and is scheduled to fly back to Scotland on Friday.

Proceeding.

With acknowledgement to Sapa.

*1 But at the same time this entrepreneurial Donateer was prepared to use his political connectivity to upset and marginalise other groups and have them excluded from projects.