Kegl is also listed as a state witness in the Scorpions' case against police chief Jackie Selebi.

Scorpions boss Leonard McCarthy alleged that payments had been made to Zuma by Cay Nominees, a company owned by Kegl.

He said there were "indications" that the payments might be linked to the arms company Thompson-CSF and the undertaking that investigators alleged it made to pay Zuma R500 000 a year in return for protection in the arms deal probe.

Details of the payments made by Kegl and his companies are listed in a KPMG draft report, "The State vs Jacob Zuma and others: forensic investigation", dated September 2, 2006.

The report says that Kegl managed funds on behalf of a number of "government officials and/or politicians", including Masekela.

In an interview with the Sunday Times, Masekela said then-deputy president Thabo Mbeki had met Thompson-CSF representatives on December 17, 1998.

Mbeki, who was then chairing the interdepartmental committee overseeing the arms deal, has said he cannot recall such a meeting.

Masekela told the paper she had arranged a "courtesy call" meeting between Mbeki and Thompson-CSF.

It took place a year before Thompson was awarded an arms contract.

Masekela insisted that there was nothing untoward about it.

"There is nothing wrong with a business wanting to meet people of power," Masekela said.

The Sunday paper said she had confirmed that she had been questioned by South African law enforcement authorities about the meeting.

She had felt uncomfortable "about suddenly being in the centre of things when what I thought had been my diplomatic duty and responsibility turned out to be something other than I thought it was".

In the interview, Masekela also acknowledged that Thompson-CSF had offered her a directorship, but said she had turned it down.

"In my personal code of ethics I couldn't do that."

Asked if she thought the offer was an attempt to bribe her, she told the paper: "I don't know, but I was uncomfortable with it."

Attempts were made to reach Masekela for comment yesterday, without success.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Tlali Tlali confirmed that Scorpions investigators "did interact with" Masekela.

"There was, however, no formal interview with her."

Tlali dismissed media speculation that Masekela would be called as a witness in Zuma and Thint's impending trial on corruption charges.

Mbeki's spokesperson, Mukoni Ratshitanga, did not respond to a request for the Presidency's comment on Masekela's statements.

With acknowledgement to Cape Times.