The Scorpions are investigating payments of millions allegedly made by fraud convict Schabir Shaik into overseas bank accounts of former transport minister Mac Maharaj, the Rapport newspaper reported on Sunday.

The payments, apparently made between 1996 and 2000, were allegedly connected to the awarding of tenders during Maharaj's tenure.

During this period Maharaj's department awarded two tenders, worth billions, from which Shaik's companies benefited. The contracts were for the issuing of credit-card-format driver's licences and for parts of the N3 toll road between Johannesburg and Durban.

The accounts, in the name of Maharaj and/or his wife Zarina, were held in Britain, the Isle of Man as well as Zurich and Geneva in Switzerland. Investigators want to know the origin of the payments, according to Rapport.

French arms company Thint had a 33,3% stake in the R650-million driver's licence contract, the newspaper said. - Sapa

With acknowledgements to Sapa and Mail and Guardian.