In a dramatic twist, it now appears as if Heath might have struck the wrong chord with President Jacob Zuma over controversial comments he made about former president Thabo Mbeki last week.

Yesterday, Zuma told an SABC radio station that he would study Heath's comments made during a wide-ranging interview with City Press published at the weekend.

During the candid interview, Heath accused Mbeki of "initiating" rape and corruption charges against Zuma in the run-up to ANC's leadership race in 2007.

He also said Zuma's former financial adviser, convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik, and senior ANC member Tony Yengeni, were "sacrificed" in the arms deal investigation and that Judge Hilary Squires' judgment in the Shaik corruption trial was flawed as there was insufficient evidence to convict him.

Zuma yesterday told Ukhozi FM that he would seek legal advice from Justice Minister Jeff Radebe regarding Heath's statements.

Zuma - who in a surprise move appointed Heath to the top job last Tuesday - said he would also look into whether the former judge held "any grudges" against anyone before deciding on any action.

Zuma's move against the man who advised him in his rape case - in which he was acquitted - and who was part of the team that got corruption charges against him withdrawn, comes as internal complaints against Heath circulate among ANC members.

Party members who spoke to The Times said Heath's "factional" statements, if unchallenged, could cause damage to the already fragile organisation.

"This man [Heath] is not aware of the damage he has caused with his statements," said a senior party member in Gauteng.

"We don't need this, especially as we prepare for our centenary, and now Zuma will have to explain himself, both in and out of the ANC, because of Heath," he said.

The DA and Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution have slammed Heath's appointment.

Heath previously headed the SIU until 2001, when the Constitutional Court ruled that, as a judge, he could no longer run the unit, an independent statutory body.

Heath, whose appointment was praised by the Presidency last week, has always been vocal about the pain he felt after he was forced to relinquish his SIU post 10 years ago.

Mbeki, who was president at the time, refused to grant Heath an early retirement package and he was forced to resign as a judge.

Last week, Heath told City Press that Mbeki's decision had left him a "pauper".

Asked if he was bitter about the previous ANC leadership, Heath, during the interview, said: "Obviously I was most unhappy about the way in which I was treated and that I was left destitute, so I wasn't happy with that."

However, Heath said the ANC under Zuma was "a completely new and different group".

"So they approached me with such sincerity and I accepted that they were not part of the old school, and that they were entitled to get to the truth of matters."

Heath conceded that he was sympathetic to Zuma and said he believed that his tribulations then were part of a conspiracy by the old ANC leadership.

Throughout the interview, Heath heaped praise on Zuma, again defending him, saying that the money Shaik paid to Zuma was "part of a culture, and friendship and camaraderie, so it was a very common thing for those who had money to support the others".