Judgment day for his financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, tried for fraud and corruption, will be a normal working day for Deputy President Jacob Zuma in Cape Town on Tuesday.

With President Thabo Mbeki out of the country visiting Washington, Zuma will take on the position of acting president, the closest some say he will come to being the country's head of state if judgment goes against his comrade.

Zuma's spokesperson, Lakela Kaunda, would only say: "It is a normal working day in Cape Town for the deputy president tomorrow."

She did not respond to the question of whether Zuma – like many normal citizens – would turn the television or radio on to hear the judgment, which will be broadcast live.

Zuma would travel to Durban later on Tuesday to attend a gala dinner hosted by Education Minister Naledi Pandor, Kaunda said.

On Wednesday, with Judge Hilary Squires expected to continue his judgment, Zuma would return to Cape Town where he was to meet Colombian Vice-President Francisco Santos Calderon, before flying to Zambia for an official visit.

Although Zuma is not on trial and faces no charges, the Shaik judgment has enormous implications for him. Central to the state's case was the relationship between Zuma and Shaik, which the state has tried to prove was "generally corrupt".

If Shaik is found innocent, Zuma's popularity will soar, and his stake in the African National Congress's presidency, and the country's, could be strengthened.

However, if Shaik is found guilty, it will give Zuma's detractors ammunition to challenge his suitability for the top job.

His demise could be hastened if Squires recommends that the state proceed against Zuma, closing a chapter which the National Prosecuting Authority initially considered and then opted against amid huge controversy.

The man at the centre of that particular row, former national prosecuting authority head Bulelani Ngcuka, would also be in meetings and not glued to the television screen, his spokesperson, Sipho Ngwema, said on Monday night.

Ngcuka had announced to the world that although there was a prima facie case of corruption against Zuma, they would not prosecute.

This made the deputy president complain to the public protector. The public protector found in favour of Zuma and, soon after, Ngcuka quit the job to join the private sector.

Meanwhile, soap opera addicts will be robbed of a typical South African irony to the whole affair.

Finance Minister Trevor Manuel will be acting president when Zuma leaves for Zambia, and not Ngcuka's wife, Minerals and Energy Affairs Minister Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, who has also served in the acting post before.

With acknowledgement to Angela Quintal and The Mercury.