Local press were holding vigil outside Durban's Westville prison on Wednesday in a bid to get the final snapshot of convicted businessman Schabir Shaik entering gaol.

The media converged on the prison after a local radio report stated that Shaik would be booked into the prison on Wednesday.

Prison warders with dogs could be seen outside the prison grounds and a police helicopter was circling the area.

However it was not clear when Shaik will begin his 15 year sentence following the dismissal of his appeal by the Supreme Court of Appeal on Monday.

It is believed Shaik will have to hand himself to prison authorities on Thursday morning at the latest.

Shaik's brother, Yunis Shaik, refused to speak to Sapa except to say that the family's lawyers were still explaining the Supreme Court of Appeal's judgement dismissing his brother's appeal.

On Tuesday Shaik's brother Mo Shaik said the family had "gone into media shutdown".

Comment be could not be obtained from Jacob Zuma or Pierre Moynot, chief executive officer of French arms manufacturing company Thint.

Zuma and Thint were charged with corruption after Shaik's conviction last year but the case was thrown out the Pietermaritzburg High Court by Judge Herbert Msimang in September.

With acknowledgement to Sapa and Independent On Line.