Durban businessman Schabir Shaik arrived at Durban's high court this morning appearing in good spirits as he prepares to seek leave to appeal against his corruption and fraud convictions and a 15-year sentence.

He stopped to shake hands with police outside the court and greeted journalists with the words: "Hello everybody."

Asked how he was, Shaik simply responded: "Fine".

He was accompanied by his wife, bodyguards and some of his brothers.

The court convicted Shaik in June on charges arising from a "generally corrupt relationship" with former Deputy President Jacob Zuma. He was sentenced to 15 years in jail on each of two corruption charges and three years for fraud, but Judge Hilary Squires ordered the sentences to run concurrently.

Zuma was subsequently relieved of his duties, and is to go on trial on related charges in October.

Lawyers could not say how long Shaik's application for leave to appeal was due to last.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and the Business Day.