Both the state and the defence were anxious for former deputy president Jacob Zuma's trial to start as soon as possible, Scorpions advocate Anton Steynberg told reporters after Zuma's first court appearance yesterday.

Steynberg was part of the state legal team which successfully prosecuted Zuma's financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, in the Durban High Court.

He and team leader Billy Downer are also expected to be part of the Zuma prosecution team.

Shaik was convicted by Judge Hilary Squires on two counts of corruption after the judge found he had a generally corrupt relationship with Zuma and had organised a bribe for him from the preferred arms bidder, French company Thomsons.

The sacked deputy president is expected to face similar corruption charges, with similar witnesses being called, including forensic auditor Johan van der Walt of KPMG.

But Steynberg indicated to Magistrate Thomas Ncube yesterday that "other avenues" were also being investigated.

Afterwards, he said there was a probability of more charges being proffered against Zuma.

"In the Shaik case, we investigated up to October 2002 . . . that's where our records stop.

"We have to go in and find out what has happened since then.

"I cannot rule out that there won't be other arrests . . . that depends on our investigations," he said.

Asked if Shaik himself could be a state witness, he said: "I can't see him agreeing to testify for the state . . . it is highly unlikely."

Steynberg said an indictment spelling out details of all the charges would not be served on Zuma at his next court appearance.

An indictment is usually served on an accused person when the matter is ready to go to trial, in this case, in the high court.

"Both sides are anxious to get this thing started," Steynberg said.

"But Zuma will make a few more appearances (in the magistrate's court) before we get to that stage."

With acknowledgements to S'bu Ndebele and The Mercury.

*1 Who is S'bu Ndebele?