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Jacob Zuma receives his first payments from Schabir Shaik, which Shaik later claimed formed part of a pattern of loans to Zuma.
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The French company Thomson-CSF (later renamed Thint Holdings) sets up its local branches in South Africa by incorporating Thomson-CFS Holdings (Southern Africa) and Thomson (Pty). Thomson and Schabir Shaik’s Nkobi Holdings enter into dealings that will make Nkobi the joint partner in all of Thomson’s ventures in the country.
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The South African National Defence Force, after receiving bids from 23 suppliers for the provision of a fighter/trainer jet, chooses four bidders to enter the next stage of evaluation.
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Cabinet approves the defence review, which finds that the defence force does need to make extensive purchases to maintain its capability. Parliament approves the review two months later.
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President Thabo Mbeki opens tenders for the purchase of arms, at an initial estimated cost of R12-billion.
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ANC MP Tony Yengeni visits DaimlerChrysler Aerospace in Brazil. He later gets a new Mercedes-Benz M-series 4×4 for half the price via a DaimlerChrysler Aerospace official.
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Zuma, Shaik and Alain Thetard, of Thint, allegedly meet to discuss paying Zuma R500 000 a year in return for protection against a probe into Thomson. This emerged during the Shaik trial.
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Yengeni is arrested and charged with fraud, perjury and forgery over his 4×4 and resigns as ANC chief whip. The DaimlerChrysler Aerospace official is also arrested. The Scorpions conduct raids as part of their investigation.
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Schabir Shaik is arrested the day after the Joint Investigation Report is presented to Parliament. On the same day Mbeki attacks those who described the joint report as a cover-up. Three days later Chippy Shaik is suspended by the Department of Defence.
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Joe Modise dies at home.
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The Joint Investigation Report goes to Parliament and implicates Modise and Chippy Shaik, but exonerates the government. Opposition MPs protest at the alleged “cover-up”.
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The Department of Defence finds Chippy Shaik guilty of leaking confidential arms deal documents. He resigns in March.
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Reports emerge in the press that Zuma is being investigated on corruption charges linked to the arms deal. This doesn’t prevent him from being elected the next month, unopposed, as ANC deputy president.
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Yengeni is arrested and charged with fraud, perjury and forgery over his 4×4 and resigns as ANC chief whip. The DaimlerChrysler Aerospace official is also arrested. The Scorpions conduct raids as part of their investigation.
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Zuma lays a formal complaint with public protector Lawrence Mushwana, alleging that Ngcuka abused his position as the NDPP by making the “prima facie” statement.
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Judge Hilary Squires finds Shaik guilty – he is jailed for 15 years and his lawyers appeal the sentence. At a special sitting of parliament Mbeki announces his decision to axe Zuma from his government.
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Zuma’s corruption case is struck from the roll. Later that month Lekota admits in Parliament that only 13 000 of the promised 65 000 offset-related job have been created.
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Tony Yengeni is released on parole after spending four months in prison.
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Corruption charges against Zuma are ruled invalid.
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The Seriti Commission finally gets under way, but is beset by numerous delays during the proceedings. It adjourns in November 2013 until the new year.
