Forensic auditor Johan van der Walt will be back in the witness box next week to be further cross-examined by counsel for Durban businessman Schabir Shaik.

It will be the third week of evidence for Van der Walt, who explained the paper trail linking Shaik, Deputy President Jacob Zuma and the Nkobi group of companies to the court.

It now looks more like a road than a trail. The number of files seems to grow by the day as Shaik's counsel, Francois van Zyl SC, adds exhibits to the State's avalanche of paper.

The State alleges that Shaik made R1.2 million in payments to Zuma in exchange for his loyalty to Nkobi Holdings and the use of his name.

Yesterday, Van der Walt completed his report that had taken eight days to read into the record.

In cross-examination, Van Zyl suggested Van der Walt had been selective in the use of documents to compile it. Van der Walt said he had had to go through 152 000 documents and had used those he considered to be relevant.

Van Zyl also said that Van der Walt and his team could have been influenced in their investigation by the prosecuting authority.

With acknowledgements to Estelle Ellis and The Independent on Saturday.