As you read this, the SA Navy's new submarine, Charlotte Maxeke, is navigating the rough seas, slowly making its way to South Africa.

The ship was built by a German firm which won a tender that was part of the controversial multibillion-rand arms deal.

Back at home, rough seas also beckon for a man who has played a crucial role in the awarding of the contract to ThyssenKrupp.

Shamin "Chippy" Shaik was the chief of acquisition in the Department of Defence. He now faces allegations that he demanded and was paid a R21-million bribe to ensure the success of the ThyssenKrupp bid.

Today, Shaik is the subject of a top-level meeting which involves National Director of Prosecutions Vusi Pikoli, Public Protector Lawrence Mushwana and Auditor-General Terrence Nombembe. The trio have to decide how the allegations against Shaik would be investigated.

In 2001, the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), comprising the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the Public Protector and the Auditor-General - after a protracted investigation - found there was a conflict of interest with regard to the position held by Shaik because his younger brother Schabir had an interest in the Thomson Group and African Defence Systems, which were also bidding for tenders.

The trio found that Chippy Shaik had declared his interests in December 1998 but continued to take part in the process that ultimately led to the awarding of contracts. "He did not recuse himself properly," they said in a statement.

The JIT also found Shaik had not applied for and did not receive a military security clearance, as required by law.

Until a few months ago, the spotlight on the arms deal had been on Schabir Shaik, who has been convicted of fraud and corruption linked to the arms deal.

But Chippy Shaik did feature in the indictment that the NPA served on Schabir. In the documents, the NPA alleged that Chippy exerted some pressure on French company Thales to choose Schabir's company as a strategic partner.

Chippy Shaik also found himself in trouble with the law. He was charged with being in possession of classified cabinet documents, and resigned from the Department of Defence soon thereafter.

But who is Chippy Shaik? He is a member of a prominent Durban family with deep ANC links as well as a history of struggle against apartheid. The Shaik brothers joined the ANC as youngsters and Chippy ended up in jail.

A well-read man, he has a doctorate in engineering.

In September 2003 Chippy said he was concerned that the family name was being tainted because of Schabir's trial. "We're guilty by association with being in the arms deal. The fact that our previous history has been in the liberation struggle doesn't help us much."

The Shaik brothers have been involved in many ventures and deals: from procuring arms to manufacturing credit card driving licences to giving financial advice to former deputy president Jacob Zuma.

Faizel is the fifth brother, but he, like their sister Rehana, was not involved in politics.

Their father, Lambie, was born in Pietermaritzburg and sharpened his political activism by serving as a shop steward for the Leather Workers' Union. It was perhaps here that the Shaik brothers had their first taste of struggle politics.

According to reports, Yunis was the first member of the Shaik family to make contact with the ANC in exile, after he and Mo were detained by the apartheid state in 1980. He recruited Mo, Schabir and also Chippy.

The brothers returned home and formed the Mandla Judson Khuzwayo unit - named after an ANC commander who had died in Zimbabwe. The unit was tasked with building support for the ANC in civic organisations and trade unions.

Mo, who then had an optometry practice in Durban, joined the ANC's intelligence network and by 1987 he was involved full-time in the spy game.

He was also part of the ANC's Operation Vula, a move to stockpile weapons in the years before the transition to democracy in 1994.

The Charlotte Maxeke is expected to dock in SA on March 20 - perhaps by then Chippy Shaik will know whether he will be investigated for receiving the bribe.

With acknowledgement to the Staff Reporter and The Star.