Former ministerial adviser turned head of policy at the department of foreign affairs, Mo Shaik, had taken 78 days' leave since January last year, according to his boss, Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

Shaik is the brother of Schabir Shaik, former deputy president Jacob Zuma's financial adviser, who stood trial on corruption charges last year and was convicted and sentenced this year.

Dlamini-Zuma was replying in writing to a parliamentary question from DA MP Sheila Camerer on how many days' leave Shaik had applied for to be able to regularly attend his brother's trial in the Durban High Court.

Dlamini-Zuma said the 78 days included both sick and vacation leave. "Management granted vacation leave to Mr Mo Shaik after due consideration to operational requirements and the fact that he had leave days available to him."

Shaik's 78 days were tallied from January 2 last year until July 29 this year. Schabir Shaik's trial began in earnest in October last year. He was sentenced in July.

With acknowledgements to Angela Quintal and The Mercury.