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The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes with concern the report in this morning's Sunday Times that Jacob Zuma's former adviser and convicted fraudster, Schabir Shaik, continues to hold at least one directorship, in blatant violation of the Companies Act.

Mr Shaik is reportedly still listed as a director of KobiProp, a former subsidiary of the Nkobi Group, which held shares in arms deal beneficiaries Thomson Holdings and African Defence Systems. It is illegal, in terms of section 218 of the Companies Act, for any person convicted of fraud to serve as a director of a company.

I will therefore be laying criminal charges against Mr Shaik shortly.

Penalties for contravention of the Act include “a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years, or to both such fine and such imprisonment”.

Additionally, it remains a matter of concern that the Registrar of the Court and the Registrar of Companies at Cipro appear to be unable to maintain and update the Disqualified Directors Registrar. In November last year, DA Shadow Minister of Trade and Industry, Tim Harris, laid similar charges against Tony Yengeni, who was listed as the director of no less than six companies, despite having been convicted of corruption. In that case, it quickly became apparent that Cipro and the Registrar of the Court had failed to ensure that this registrar was updated.

In January this year, the South African police confirmed that they had upgraded the inquiry into Mr Yengeni to a full investigation. We trust that similarly swift action will follow our laying of charges against Mr Shaik.