Fraud and corruption accused Schabir Shaik appeared to dig a deeper hole for himself yesterday when he acknowledged in the Durban High Court that he consistently used Deputy President Jacob Zuma’s name in business meetings and in securing deals.

Despite admitting on Tuesday that he is still bankrolling Zuma’s lifestyle and has extended a R2m revolving loan agreement well past the time when Zuma may assume the country’s presidency, Shaik denied the two elements reflected corruption.

He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of corruption and one of fraud, but admitted in his plea explanation that he paid a host of Zuma’s bills in the guise of friendship. His repeated comments yesterday that “the deputy president is my friend” were an extension of Shaik’s theme throughout the four months of the trial.

Shaik yesterday also denied meeting Renong SA executive David Wilson, in a move that could bring Zuma a step closer to testifying in his friend’s defence.

In the mid-1990s Malaysian-based Renong was involved in developing the Point Waterfront at the Durban harbour, but the initiative collapsed during the 1998 Asian crisis.

Wilson was initially willing to testify in the trial, but later withdrew after pressure from the Renong board and the Malaysian government, the majority shareholder. In an affidavit accepted as evidence last week, Wilson outlined a meeting held in Shaik’s apartment in 1996 between himself, Shaik and Zuma.

“(Zuma) proposed Shaik should be involved in the (Point Waterfront) project and stressed repeatedly he would be a good partner for the job. During the course of the discussions it became increasingly clear Zuma was acting as if Shaik had some sort of hold over him *1. At one point Zuma made mention of the support and assistance he had received from Shaik. I gained the strong impression this support and assistance was of a financial nature,” Wilson said.

Shaik yesterday denied ever meeting Wilson either in his apartment, his office or in Zuma’s offices, setting up the deputy president as the only person who could corroborate Shaik’s story. Without Zuma’s testimony, Shaik’s word would be weighed against Wilson’s and a welter of other damning evidence.

Yet, Shaik repeatedly acknowledged he openly associated with Zuma in bidding for business and directed problems via the deputy president. In 2001 Shaik enlisted Zuma’s assistance after repeatedly failing to get former safety and security minister Steve Tshwete to approve a joint venture contract between UK company Venson and Nkobi Holdings for managing the South African Police Service motor vehicle fleet.

He also used Zuma’s name in 1996 when attempting to establish a bank, admitting in correspondence to Nigerian businessmen that he had “a better than equal chance” in securing the KwaZulu-Natal economic affairs and tourism department account. Zuma headed the department between 1994 and 1999.

With acknowledgements to Nicola Jenvey and Business Day.

*1 It da wonga, stupid - Bumiputera.