Hailing the Supreme Court of Appeal judgment on Schabir Shaik's appeal today, two leading opposition parties suggested that it meant Jacob Zuma would get his day in court after all.

The DA justice spokeswoman, Sheila Camerer, said in a statement: "That the two corruption charges relating to 'the generally corrupt relationship' between Mr Shaik and Mr Zuma and the "Zuma bribe" have been upheld surely has serious implications for Mr Zuma's political future.

"It is hard to see how the National Prosecuting Authority can fail to pursue their case against him now".

After the corruption case against Zuma had been struck off the roll two months ago, today's verdict gave Zuma a "true opportunity to have his day in court", Camerer said.

"It is significant to the extent that the political implications almost trump the legal ones.

UDF leader Bantu Holomisa said: "The time has now arrived for both the Scorpions and Zuma to show cause why Zuma should not now get his day in court, so that he can take the stand to answer for this corrupt relationship with Shaik for which the latter has been convicted and has unsuccessfully appealed.

"The public deserve to have the matter resolved once and for all.

"Secondly, the arms deal is under the spotlight once more.

"It won't go away until it has been comprehensively dealt with by an independent judicial commission of inquiry," Holomisa's statement said.

ID leader Patricia De Lille said the decision proved that South Africa's judiciary was independent and "cannot be influenced by politics".

'The message is plain and simple - crime doesn't pay, regardless of how powerful or politically well-connected you are. I have been vindicated."

With acknowledgement to Cape Argus.