Next week forensic auditor Johan van der Walt will face further cross-examination by counsel for Durban businessman Schabir Shaik.

It will be the third week for Van der Walt who explained the paper trail between Shaik, Deputy President Jacob Zuma and the Nkobi group of companies to the High Court.

It is now evident that this is more a long and winding road than a trail. The number of files seem to increase by the day as senior counsel for Shaik, Francois van Zyl SC, adds more and more exhibits to the State's avalanche of paper.

The state alleges Shaik made R1.2 million in payments to Zuma in exchange for Zuma's loyalty to Nkobi Holdings. The state also alleges Shaik was involved in the fraudulent "writing-off of amounts" loaned to Zuma in Nkobi's books.

In his plea explanation Shaik admitted the bulk of the payments, but said it was an effort to help a close friend.

During cross-examination Van Zyl said Shaik would testify that: The money deal between Zuma and Shaik was on paper, signed and declared to parliament. (Van der Walt conceded there was some form of acknowledgement of debt between Shaik and Zuma but added that he could find no evidence of attempts by Shaik and Nkobi to claim back the money.) The agreement is on paper and filed in the confidential section of parliament's asset register.

With acknowledgements to Estelle Ellis and the Cape Argus.