Reporters started gathering at the Durban High Court on Tuesday morning as security was being beefed up ahead of the judgement in the Schabir Shaik fraud and corruption trial.
Police sniffer dogs and the bomb squad were also preparing to start a security check of the courtroom where Judge Hillary Squires is scheduled to deliver his verdict shortly after 2pm.
Judgement is expected to continue until Wednesday afternoon.
Shaik’s bodyguards were seen outside the court as reporters and camera crews set up their equipment ahead of the judgement. Television stations e-tv and SABC 2 as well as radio station 702 were setting up for a live broadcast. Curious onlookers were also gathering nearby.
”We appeal to the public to watch it on TV … it’s more audible … it also mitigates the danger of the court being delayed because there’s chaos outside,” said the spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, Makhosini Nkosi, on Monday.
Shaik has pleaded not guilty to two charges of corruption and one of fraud relating to payments allegedly made to Deputy President Jacob Zuma.
Meanwhile, Zuma, accompanied by Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad, is expected to depart for a two-day visit to Zambia on Wednesday, an official in his office said on Monday.
During the Shaik trial, the state described the relationship between Shaik and Zuma as ”generally corrupt”.
The lengthy trial, which started in October, came to an end on May 4.
On Monday Shaik was trying to recover from flu and is also suffering from a severe throat infection.
He said he would only comment once the judgement has been delivered.
His brother, Mo, told the South African Press Agency: ”We believe in the integrity and independence of the judicial system.”
He said they had no doubts about this, especially the way in which trial has been conducted and the attention given to detail by Judge Hillary Squires.
Mo said Shaik’s family will definitely be in court to support his brother.
”It will be a gathering of the Shaik clan. It’s a very trying time for us. The least we can do is be there for him.”
Mo said he also wanted to convey his thanks to all those ”ordinary people” who could not affect the outcome of the trial but who sent messages of support and SMSes to his brother.
If Squires and his assessors find Shaik guilty the state is entitled to call witnesses in aggravation and the defence can call witnesses in mitigation. ‒ Sapa