Deputy President Jacob Zuma is in for a tough week in parliament, facing a possible motion of no confidence, as well as a public grilling tomorrow about why he allegedly lied to MPs.

National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete has yet to decide whether to allow a DA-sponsored motion of no confidence in Zuma.

Mbete yesterday asked DA chief whip Douglas Gibson to provide her with evidence from the Schabir Shaik judgment. She wants the party to back up its claims against Zuma, so that she can assess whether Gibson's substantive motion is in order.

Should Mbete allow the motion, the ANC's two-thirds majority in the House would save Zuma, given that ruling party MPs would vote against it.

Gibson said he would provide Mbete with a copy of Judge Hilary Squires's 165-page judgment and would draw her attention "to the aspects that support the allegations against the deputy president".

This included the judge's finding that there was a generally corrupt relationship between Shaik and Zuma.

Zuma has been quizzed in parliament in the past about his relationship with Shaik, but has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

He has also been protected from answering tricky questions about an alleged R500 000 a year bribe from a French arms company. This was because the issue was still sub judice.

Should Shaik not have been sentenced by tomorrow afternoon when Zuma appears in the House, the Speaker will be in a position to bar any questions to Zuma that have a bearing on the case, as it will still be sub judice.

With acknowledgements to Angela Quintal and the Cape Times.