The Democratic Alliance called on President Thabo Mbeki on Thursday to set up a commission of inquiry to probe Deputy President Jacob Zuma's financial affairs.

The inquiry should also look into the nature of Zuma's financial relationship with his financial advisor Schabir Shaik, who was currently facing criminal charges, DA spokeswoman Raenette Taljaard said in a statement.

Recent allegations against Zuma were very serious and struck at the heart of government.

"South Africa cannot afford to have a cloud of suspicion and questions of corruption hanging over the head of the second most important political office bearer in the country," Taljaard said.

In a letter to Mbeki on Thursday, she said the allegations against Zuma included

• that he attempted to secure a bribe of R500 000 a year from French defence giant Thomson-CSF (now Thales) to be paid in return for Zuma's protection of Thales during investigations into the arms deal and to secure his permanent support for future projects;
• that he met Shaik and Alain Thetard, then Thomson-CSF's chairman for Southern Africa, in a hotel in Durban on March 11, 2000, when the Joint Investigating Team's probe of the deal had already commenced to discuss the question of Thomson-CSF making an "effort" on behalf of Zuma in return for his protection; and
• that Zuma might have a direct or indirect interest in Thales via other companies.

Taljaard said although Zuma had denied all the allegations as "baseless, mischievous and unfortunate" and stated that he was "far removed from the arms procurement process", this statement was misleading.

For example, it was Zuma who wrote a letter to Parliament's public accounts committee (Scopa) chairman at the time Dr Gavin Woods, "that attacked a committee of Parliament in virulent terms -- an attack that appears prima facie more sinister if any allegations against him are proven".

Furthermore, Shaik was currently facing serious criminal charges of stealing classified state documents.

"The probity, or otherwise, of the deputy president's ongoing financial relationship with Mr Shaik requires objective scrutiny," she said.

"These allegations are very serious and raise both questions of potential unethical and criminal conduct -- questions that, if proven, could make a mockery out of Mr Zuma's leadership of the South African government's moral regeneration campaign."

Therefore, the DA requested a commission of inquiry be appointed to investigate the matter, Taljaard said.

With acknowledgement to Sapa.