Plans are afoot for Durban businessman Schabir Shaik to soon sell his stake in Nkobi Holdings, the company at the centre of the Shaik-Zuma corruption scandal.

This was disclosed this week by the new man at the helm of Nkobi, Mo Shaik, brother of Schabir. In an interview in his new chair, Rieaz "Mo" Shaik spoke of his future plans and the strategy he will be advising for the business, the upheaval of past months, and his current challenges.

And just in case anyone thinks developments and twists of recent months have changed things between the Shaik family and former deputy president Jacob Zuma, he said, "We still love Zuma. We remain his loyal comrades and share his vision of a new South Africa. He is no problem to us in any way."

Brother Schabir, who was once Zuma's financial adviser, stood trial on corruption charges and was convicted and sentenced to imprisonment earlier this year. Judge Hilary Squires found that Shaik had been in a corrupt relationship with Zuma, a verdict Shaik is appealing against.

Zuma is at present facing two corruption charges, and is due to go on trial on July 31 next year.

Looking relaxed in a lounge chair in a comfortable and impressive boardroom, Mo Shaik spoke of his ambitions for the first time since quitting his job recently at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The former ANC and government intelligence operative-turned-diplomat, who became a household name during the Hefer Commission hearing and, more recently, as the family spokesperson at his brother's trial, said he not only had a vision but a plan to make Nkobi Holdings successful.

But on one point he was absolutely clear: neither his vision nor his plans for Nkobi include the arms industry. "That is a no-go area," he said.

He also felt the need to set the record straight. "Contrary to what was said at the trial, Jacob Zuma is not part of Nkobi Holdings nor is he a shareholder.

"The other is that my brother, Schabir is not a director of Nkobi Holdings but a shareholder.

"As far as his shares are concerned, proposals have been made to buy these as soon as he comes back from his trip (a pilgrimage) to Mecca," said Shaik.

But his immediate priority is to prepare for the November hearing of Nkobi Holdings, where the company faces possible confiscation of its assets arising from the High Court convictions.

The State has already "preserved" R33-million in Nkobi assets. In June, Schabir Shaik agreed to give the state temporary control of these assets pending court action. The Assets Forfeiture Unit is expected to apply in November for these assets to be forfeited to the state as proceeds of crime.

"We are busy preparing our defence for the November hearing. We have some of the top legal brains in the country assisting us drawing up our case. We will win no matter what it takes," said a confident Mo Shaik.

All big things, he said, started with a small step. "For me, that will be in November," he said.

Reflecting on his role as the family spokesperson during the fraud and corruption trial of brother Schabir, he said, "Not only did I have to deal with the publicity of the lengthy and at times traumatic trial itself, but I also had to put on a face to the media which was not very kind to us," he said.

Shaik said the issue of him taking the helm of Nkobi arose during and after the trial of his brother. He is the second youngest of six brothers.

"We discussed my leaving the Foreign Affairs Department at length and eventually decided that for us to move forward, I would have to leave the department.

"This decision has the total support of my family that includes my brothers Salim, Faizul, Yunus, Chippy and Schabir, my sister Rehana and their partners and spouses.

"It was not an easy decision to make. I loved working for the Foreign Affairs Department which I joined in 1997. It was a remarkable experience. It changed my perspective of the world.

"It expanded by knowledge and influenced my thinking to a large extent. I still miss my colleagues and mentors in the department," he said.

"However, a decision had to be taken, with the shareholders expressing their confidence in my turning the company around. They wanted me to draw up a strategic change management plan for the company. This has to be done within two to three months.

"Of course, there are many questions that require answers. This includes staying in the same business, or a change of strategy and what new enterprises to get involved in."

Plans, at this stage, he said, included directing the company into a completely new position.

Part of the initiative would include reviving the city of Durban.

"It has enormous economic growth potential if corporate entities are willing to get involved in the project. It could match or even better that of Johannesburg," he said.

"The other initiatives we are looking at include property development and exploiting new technologies applicable to the IT sector, and to use this synergy to develop the small shareholding that we have with Cell C."

Asked what experience he had as a business entrepreneur, he said he was a man of many caps. He had obtained three degrees at the former University of Durban-Westville. One was a science degree while the others were optometry and his masters in optometry.

"My experience includes amalgamating six intelligence services launched during the apartheid era into one service after democratic rule became a reality in South Africa."

His time with Foreign Affairs had also given him a wealth of experience. He was an adviser to Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Minister of Foreign Affairs. He said he was also the head of the policy unit at Foreign Affairs for 18 months.

"While working in Hamburg, Germany, we were tasked with the tough job of rationalising five consulates into two.

In Algeria, we started a consulate from scratch into a fully-fledged institution representing South Africa. All this has been a vast learning experience from which I can draw.

"From an anti-apartheid student activist to an intelligence operative of an underground organisation, I turned into becoming a negotiator with experience in shutting things down and opening up new doors for the country.

All this experience will be used in designing a new life in the private sector," said Shaik.

Shaik has been married to Erin, a Canadian, for two years. She gave up her job with the United Nations to come to South Africa and has now joined a local non-governmental organisation known as the Micro Nutrient Initiative that deals with the supply of Vitamin A to impoverished communities in Africa.

Asked how he got the nickname Mo, he quipped, "From the popular cartoon, The Three Stooges. Larry, Curly and Mo. I believe they called me Mo because he was the better looking of the three characters," said Shaik.

On his brother, who is contesting his convictions, he said, "Schabir is in constant touch with us during the holy month of Ramadan.

He is in touch with God and his spirituality. We wish him well over this period as well as for Eid and are hoping to have him back home soon after this celebration on November 4."

He said the new vision for the company and shareholders was that the corporate entity should make a meaningful contribution to the creation of wealth and social responsibility towards the alleviation of poverty and the eradication of under development.

He described his new venture as a major challenge.

"My very first big challenge in life was to be part of those who helped change this country from apartheid to democracy and this new venture will be my next new challenge.

We won the first one and I have no hesitation in saying that I will also win the second one," he said.

"The perception that we are not a clean company is an incorrect one. Our doors are open to anyone willing to enhance the corporate governance of the company.

"The ultimate aim of the company is to become a major global player," said Shaik. "However, we are still shell-shocked after the lengthy and costly trial of my brother, Schabir.

"But life still has to go on. We are meeting our bills and carrying on, but I can promise you, all this will change after November," said Shaik.

• This article was originally published on page 41 of AFP on October 23, 2005

With acknowledgements to Juggie Naran and Independent Online.