‘I have been meticulous in applying and seeking approval for this leave. Despite taking leave, I have ensured that my obligations to Foreign Affairs are still maintained’

Schabir Shaik ’s younger brother, Mo, said in response to questions from the Sunday Times this week that he had taken leave from work to defend his sibling and the Deputy President against “neo-conservative” forces .

Shaik, a senior Department of Foreign Affairs official, has regularly attended his brother’s corruption trial at the Durban High Court, sometimes informally acting as his adviser on how to answer questions under cross-examination.

Shaik, who said his colleagues would describe him as a “workaholic”, said he attended the trial for two reasons.

“The first is that I am here to provide support and assistance to my brother and his wife during a very trying time.

“The neo-conservative media of this country, embedded in the agenda to portray the deputy president in the negative and stereotypical role of another corrupt African leader, has consistently argued that the Schabir Shaik trial is really about Deputy President Zuma,” he said.

“I have consistently said that I will do all that is necessary to oppose this undemocratic agenda. ...I remain so committed.”

He said “the acquittal of Schabir Shaik is part and parcel of the collective effort to defeat this undemocratic agenda”.

Explaining how he managed to secure so many days off work to attend the trial, Shaik said he had used accumulated and current leave.

“I have been meticulous in applying and seeking approval for this leave. It was granted. It is within my rights to apply for leave.

"Despite taking leave, I have ensured that my obligations to Foreign Affairs are still maintained.”

Shaik is head of the Foreign Affairs Policy and Research Unit.

He said he had carried out some of his duties while on leave to attend the trial. These included helping to draft a United Nations address made by Minister of Foreign Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, summarising a report by renowned developmental eco-nomist Jeffrey Sachs, and helping to draft the department’s input to the African Union’s African diaspora meeting to be held in Jamaica next week.

As a parting shot, Shaik said: “Ask anyone at Foreign Affairs and they’ll tell you ‘The man is a workaholic’.”

Foreign Affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said the department’s director-general “does grant him special leave from time to time in accordance with the policy framework that regulates the granting of leave to employees ...” .

He said that Shaik’s absence had not interfered with his job as the head of the department’s policy unit.

He could not say, however, how many days of work Shaik had already missed this year or how many days of leave were still due to him *1.

Additional reporting by S’thembiso Msomi

With acknowledgements to Charmeela Bhagowat and the Sunday Times.

*1 Sounds worthy of a small departmental investigation or maybe one by the neo-conservatives.