Witness says Zuma urged him to do business with Nkobi Holdings, and Shaik threatened to use influence with Zuma to stop tourism project

Only one person could get Deputy President Jacob Zuma's signature on a prospective deal - and that was Schabir Shaik.

This was the impression that Professor John Lennon, from Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland, gained from his dealings with the two men, the Durban High Court heard yesterday.

Shaik has pleaded not guilty to two charges of corruption and one of fraud.

Lennon flew into Durban yesterday morning to testify in the case, and spent about three hours in the witness box. Earlier in the trial, the state failed in its application to lead his evidence by satellite link when it was thought that he could not make the trip.

Lennon, an expert on tourism, told the court he had come to South Africa in 1998 as part of a British government trade delegation to look at how skills could be developed to enhance tourism.

The plan was to start an eco-tourism school in KwaZulu Natal.

Lennon gave a presentation in Johannesburg, after which he was approached by Shaik, who expressed interest in the project.

The Scottish professor also heard that Zuma, then MEC for tourism and economic development in KwaZulu Natal, was keen on the idea of an eco-tourism school.

Lennon said that after "waiting for a long time", he had managed to meet with Zuma in Durban.

He asked Zuma for a "letter of support" to obtain funding for a feasibility study, which Zuma undertook to provide. Lennon returned to Scotland to await the letter.

"It took a very long time," he said.

In January 1999, Deva Ponnoosami, the London agent for Shaik's Nkobi Holdings, wrote to Shaik to say that Lennon was experiencing trouble in "getting JZ's signature". Lennon told the court that he had drafted a very simple draft letter and faxed it to Ponnoosami as an example.

On February 4 1999, the letter from Zuma finally arrived. In it, Zuma expressed support for the venture but said a local partner was needed "to assist in understanding local demands" and urged Lennon to use Nkobi Holdings. The letter had been faxed from Shaik's Nkobi Holdings' fax machine.

"It was interesting, but premature," Lennon said. "We had South African partners - at that stage we were just dealing with bread-and-butter stuff.

"It was peculiar that the letter was not sent from Zuma's office," Lennon said. "I wondered why Zuma would suggest one company in particular. I also found it unusual that a minister had to be helped to write a letter. It did not fill me with confidence."

On the same day, Lennon received a letter from Nkobi Holdings, confirming their interest in being Lennon's partner. "It was a busy day for the fax machine. Faxes were coming through thick and fast."

Lennon replied to Shaik that he was keen to discuss the project but "it was early days".

This drew an angry reply from Shaik in a letter written by Nkobi development manager Martyn Surman. "I have to advise you that he (Shaik) finds your response insulting to say the least," Surman wrote.

"It seems a bit harsh. Shaik must be easily insulted," Lennon said.

Surman also wrote that it was only through Shaik's intervention that they had finally obtained a letter of support from Zuma.

"There was an unusual and irregular implied reference here that only one person could get Zuma's signature," Lennon said.

Surman further demanded project details to be delivered within three days, "failing which (Shaik) will go back to Minister Zuma".

In another letter to Ponnoosami, Shaik wrote that if Lennon missed this deadline, "I will seek to do what is necessary to stop (his) progress".

"I thought, naively, that they only wanted to get the project going," Lennon said. "The letter suggests that there was a degree of influence over Zuma. It was unusual, unfortunate and tragically unforgivable, given that it stopped a project that would have been worthwhile.

"I did not reply to their letter," he said. "I wanted nothing to do with them. Despite our best efforts, we got nowhere with the project. We had to move on. It was very disappointing."

Shaik's counsel, advocate Francois van Zyl SC, told the court that Shaik would say:

He had never met* Lennon. It was not Shaik but Nkobi's agent Ponnoosami who had been at the Johannesburg meeting in 1998 and that Shaik's business card could have been stapled to the brochure which he gave to Lennon.
The letter written to Lennon by Zuma had been suggested by Ponnoosami. Shaik thought that was what Lennon had wanted*.
The letter had been faxed from Nkobi's fax machine.
He had asked Surman to write the unfortunate letter referring to his being insulted, but it was done because Shaik felt he was being sidelined*.
He denied* having anything to do with the project's never coming to fruition. Lennon is returning to Glasgow today. The trial continues.

With acknowledgements to Estelle Ellis and The Star.

* When in doubt deny, deny, deny - they're always wrong, I'm always right.