Trial Puts Anc in the Spotlight

South Africa's deputy president, Jacob Zuma, began a fight for his political life yesterday when he was repeatedly named in corruption charges against his friend and financial adviser, Schabir Shaik.

Although Mr Zuma was not charged, he sent lawyers to the high court in Durban for the opening of the case, which could destroy his ambition to be president and put the African National Congress in turmoil.

The prosecution said that Mr Zuma, 62, was bribed by Mr Shaik to manipulate aspects of South Africa's controversial purchase of warships, aircraft and other armaments mainly from European companies.

Mr Shaik, 47, is charged with two counts of corruption and a third of fraud. The trial is expected to last several months and involve more than 100 witnesses from 10 countries. If he is convicted, commentators say, Mr Zuma's position will be untenable.

Both men have denied doing anything wrong, and hinted that the inquiry was driven by political foes intent on denying Mr Zuma the presidency.

The two have defended their friendship as one forged in the liberation struggle, when both were underground activists.

A money smuggler for the ANC, Mr Shaik became a businessman when the movement won power and managed his friend's finances as he climbed the political ladder.

Yesterday the prosecution withdrew charges against Thint Holdings, a French arms company which was known as Thomson-CSF/Thales when it was one of Mr Shaik's clients, apparently because it had offered its cooperation.

"The withdrawal was part of the strategy towards the ultimate end," a spokesman for the public prosecutor said.

The charge sheet says that from 1995 Mr Shaik's company Nkobi Holdings paid Mr Zuma the equivalent of £108,000 in cash, bonds, loan repayments, living allowances, clothing, school and university fees for his children in return for his help in obtaining government contracts.

It was also alleged that in 2000 Mr Zuma solicited an annual bribe of £43,000 from Thomson-CSF/Thales to deflect the investigation of irregularities.

Campaigners said this was just the tip of the iceberg of sleaze surrounding the purchase of submarines, frigates, aircraft and other equipment.

After opening argument Judge Hillary Squires adjourned the trial to allow broadcasters to make a case today for televising the proceedings.

Their lawyers said the trial was of major public importance and had implications for "matters of governance". The prosecution and defence oppose the judge lifting the normal ban on cameras.

Flanked by lawyers, Mr Shaik made no comment outside the court.

Mr Zuma was not in Durban and continued his official duties. Today he is due in Uganda for talks on Burundi's peace process.