The Presidency has confirmed receiving an application for a Presidential pardon from convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik, the SABC reported on Wednesday.

The application is one of over 300 currently before President Jacob Zuma, according to a report on the broadcaster's website.

Zuma's spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said that the President did not mean to mislead the public during a television interview when he said Shaik had not applied. Zuma had meant to say he could not comment as he has not yet seen the application.

While it did not normally discuss individual cases because of confidentiality, the Presidency would confirm that Shaik applied because of the public interest in the matter.

Zuma had not yet had the opportunity to look at any of the 300 applications.

The SABC said that Zuma was not bound by any deadlines and would consider the applications when he chose to.