KwaZulu-Natal finance MEC Zweli Mkhize told the Durban High Court on Monday how fraud and corruption accused Schabir Shaik financed a cash-strapped African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal from 1994.
”I would regard him as a major contributor to the ANC… he was one of the most important,” Mkhize said.
”When you say most important do you mean the most generous?” asked Judge Hilary Squires.
Mkhize replied in the affirmative.
Mkhize, the former ANC provincial treasurer-general, was also questioned about a document dated May 1999 that was presented to the court by Shaik’s defence advocate Francois van Zyl.
Van Zyl said it showed that Shaik had given just over a R1-million to the ANC at that stage and that a million more was expected from him.
Mkhize said fund-raising was one of his main jobs when he was appointed as treasurer-general and they had Shaik’s commitment to pay a number of outstanding debts on behalf of the party.
He said Shaik even suggested that to keep track of payments and money belonging to the ANC, the party could use Floryn Investments, one of his companies that was dormant, as an accounting platform.
He said Shaik subsequently opened a bank account in the name of Floryn and both he and Mkhize had signing powers on the account.
He also told the court that when Deputy President Jacob Zuma was MEC for Economic Affairs in KwaZulu-Natal, he was ”at the forefront of trying to stabilise the province” that was plagued by violence.
He said although the government’s VIP protection unit was there to assist leaders whose lives were possibly in danger because of the conflict between the ANC and Inkatha Freedom Party, many of them did not feel comfortable with it.
He mentioned that the police themselves were divided. ”In some cases reports suggested that elements in the police force were threatening to harm individuals,” he said.
He said the ANC was not keen to get the police involved. If there was a threat on someone’s life the ANC did not like to publish it because it was demoralising.
In some instances leaders had to be relocated because of security issues, and the ANC did not have money to help them.
He also explained that members of provincial government who used their own cars and put in claims, only received payments up to three months later.
This related to testimony given by Shaik on why he was responsible for finding and paying for accommodation for Zuma and assisting him in paying for his car bills.
Shaik said he regarded these payments as contributions to the ANC and did not expect to be repaid.
Mystery witnesses to be called up
Shaik’s instructing attorney, Reeves Parsee, said the defence will call a further two, or possibly three, witnesses but remained tight-lipped about who they will be.
According to prosecutor Billy Downer, senior council, the state will also apply to call two more witnesses.
Downer said once all the witnesses have been called, the case will be adjourned until April 18 for argument and judgement.
Shaik, a Durban-based businessman, is accused of facilitating a bribe of R500 000 a year for his long-time friend, Deputy President Jacob Zuma, from the French arms company Thomson CSF.
This was allegedly in exchange for protection during irregularities in South Africa’s multibillion-rand arms deal.
Shaik is also accused of bankrolling Zuma’s lavish lifestyle to the tune of R1,2-million in exchange for using Zuma’s influence to his benefit. — Sapa