Former President Jacob Zuma has refused to participate further in the State Capture inquiry until Commission chairperson Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo recuses himself.
The State Capture Enquiry, also known as the Zondo Commission, is a public enquiry set up in 2018 to investigate allegations of corruption during Zuma’s time in office. A report found evidence of alleged corruption at the highest levels of government during his presidency.
In a letter sent through his attorney, Eric Mabuza, Zuma explains that he believes Zondo has a “biased disposition” towards him and is thus “impartial”. He specifically feels targetted by the Commission of inquiry following a media briefing held on September 21.
“We note that this special focus and targeting of President Zuma has been the hallmark of this Commission’s approach since it commenced with its proceedings. As a result, President Zuma views the recent media briefing as a culmination of a series of events by which he was singled out and targeted by the commission,” reads the letter.
This letter follows after Zondo announced new, non-negotiable dates, for Zuma to appear on November 16-20 and give evidence.
He, nor his legal representatives, will appear at the State Capture Commission for an application for a subpoena to compel him to appear in November. The letter also claims Zuma is preparing a detailed affidavit to prove that Zondo is impartial and has predetermined Zuma’s guilt, which in turn affects the Commission.
Letter to Judicial Commission of Inquiry from @PresJGZuma Attorrneys pic.twitter.com/uekPbdoGx6
— Dudu Zuma-Sambudla (@DZumaSambudla) September 28, 2020
The news of Zuma’s refusal to appear has left South Africans with many opinions. #Zuma is currently trending on Twitter, with over 12 000 tweets thus far. Most social media users appear to side with Zondo:
Now why am I not surprised. I say subpoena the crook. If he don’t turn up, arrest him. We have wasted too much time on this delinquent. Zuma won’t attend state capture commission until ‘biased’ Zondo recuses himself https://t.co/e0VFrpf44L
— Frik de Villiers (@VilliersFrik) September 29, 2020
Zondo is now in the horns of dilemma. He will not recuse himself and he CANNOT arrest Zuma. Despite their different backgrounds, Abraham Lincoln & Jacob Zuma never went to school. Yet both are clever methodical intelligent; very adept at wrong footing all who under-estimate them pic.twitter.com/eoOqpftA0e
— Rose Mphahlele (@KwaMhlanga123) September 29, 2020
By the time Zuma finds his way to the courts for his criminal activities, he’ll be in his 80s and we’ll be told that he’s too old for jail.
Anc has fucked up this country.#VoetsekANC
— Unathi Kwaza (@Unathi_Kwaza) September 29, 2020
Some agree that Zondo has displayed biased behaviour:
Zondo is running this commission like a witch hunt. Is this a Zuma and free state capture commission? Why not summon Zuma, his Deputy and entire cabinet for questioning? Do u after R1bn know who captured the state, where, how and with whom? Or u only know about braais and bags? https://t.co/zKQ9I1nMZO
— Khandani Msibi (@KhandaniM) September 29, 2020
Zondo fell into the trap. All he had to do was be fair, listen to all sides. We all saw he was obsessed with Zuma; even when witnesses didn’t mention his name he would drop Zuma’s name himself to sort of implicate him
Pretorius & Gordhan used Zondo to get to Zuma. It backfired https://t.co/QPX6owrY6x
— Sphithiphithi Evaluator (@_AfricanSoil) September 29, 2020
Its not about personalities, its about your conduct. U can still conduct yourself with dignity and fairness even if you hate Zuma. https://t.co/OJCkUcO8PC
— Khandani Msibi (@KhandaniM) September 29, 2020
Exactly! The same Zondo was Zuma’s legal adviser. The same way Adv Pretorius is Pravin Gordhan’s close friend yet didn’t disclose it.
Zondo is well aware this is a nasty political game against Zuma but he decided to grandstand for the media instead of applying the rule of law https://t.co/ud5gcnws3C
— Sphithiphithi Evaluator (@_AfricanSoil) September 29, 2020
Picture: Twitter