JOHANNESBURG (AFP) -- A business associate of South Africa's sacked deputy president Jacob Zuma had an appeal Monday against a 15-year prison sentence imposed for corruption and bribery dismissed.

Judge Craig Howie told the court in the city of Bloemfontein that there was no reason to either overturn the verdicts or the sentence imposed on Durban businessman Schabir Shaik in July 2005.

"All the applications for leave to appeal are dismissed. All the appeals are dismissed," said the judge.

The trial judge last year had ruled that the country's former number two Zuma, who remains deputy president of the ruling ANC, had a "generally corrupt" relationship with Shaik. Judge Howie said there was "a wealth of evidence to show that the friendship which we accept exists (with Zuma) was persistently and aggressively exploited by Mr. Shaik for his own and his businesses advantage."

In September, a judge threw out corruption charges against Zuma linked to a 1999 arms deal in which Shaik was fingered as the conduit, clearing the veteran politician's bid to succeed President Thabo Mbeki who steps down in 2009.