Durban businessman Schabir Shaik is to seek leave to appeal against his 15-year jail term for fraud and theft, his lawyer Francois van Zyl told the city's High Court after sentence was passed on Wednesday.

Van Zyl told Judge Hilary Squires he had instructions to appeal against Shaik's sentence as well as an array of fines imposed on his Nkobi group of companies.

Squires set the date for the hearing at July 26, and extended Shaik's bail until then.

Squires sentenced Shaik to 15 years on each of two counts of corruption, and another three years on one of fraud.

Squires set the date for the hearing at July 26 He ordered that the sentences run concurrently.

Shaik was convicted on the three charges last Thursday - all of which the judge found involved illicit financial dealings with Deputy President Jacob Zuma.

Squires fined 10 companies in the Nkobi stable to fines varying from R25 000 to R1,4-million each.

Nkobi Holdings was fined R125 000 on a count of corruption and Nkobi investments to R1-million on the same charge.

Kobifin, Kobitech and Kobitech Transport Systems were fined a total of R1,5-million on one count of corruption, while Kobifin was also fined R1,4-million on a charge of fraud.

Procunsult, Pro Con Africa, Clegton, Floryn Investments and Chartley Investments were each fined R25 000 on a corruption charge, suspended for five years on condition they were not found guilty of an offence involving fraud, corruption or dishonesty during that period.

On the fraud charge, Pro Con Africa, Clegton and Floryn Investments were fined an additional R33 000 each, suspended for the same period and on the same conditions.

On a count of money laundering, Kobifin and Kobitech were each fined R500 000.

The fines had to be paid by June 30, the judge said.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and Independent Online.