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The JG Zuma Foundation issued a statement in response to comments from the Vice President of the Supreme Court in the State Capture Investigation on Monday. The text, issued on behalf of the foundation, accuses Zondo of having an “obsession” with Zuma.
Former President Jacob Zuma’s foundation criticized Supreme Court Vice President Raymond Zondo in a statement issued Wednesday.
The document, whose authors are not cited, records disappointment at Zondo’s “obsession” with Zuma:
“His press conference was ill-advised and absolutely inappropriate for a person of his seniority in the judiciary,” it reads.
Such for which
The statement, issued by the JG Zuma Foundation, affirms an inconsistency in how Zondo has treated the Minister of Public Companies versus how he has treated the former head of state.
“His attacks against President Zuma and his legal representatives were absolutely unjustified and damaging,” it reads.
Zuma Foundation criticizes Zondo for press conference
Daily maverick contacted a member of Zuma’s legal team. The member declined to comment, stating that there would be ongoing engagements with Zondo and the secretariat.
The foundation’s statement hints that Zondo is partisan:
“He has not called a press conference to respond to Minister Pravin Jamnandas Gordhan when he did not even present an affidavit to explain his absence,” it reads.
A litany of grievances
The scorching two-page text was published two days after Zondo provided an update on the status of correspondence with Zuma’s attorneys and announced the dates of Zuma’s next appearance.
“This commission has made it clear to the attorneys who represented him before that this commission does not negotiate dates with witnesses,” Zondo added.
End of the line when Zondo tells Zuma that appearance dates are non-negotiable
Zuma, through his attorneys, listed three reasons why he would not appear this week. Now, her foundation has criticized Zondo, stating that the notice about the session was only provided at the eleventh hour.
“During his press conference, the President failed to mention that the instructions themselves regarding the dates of October 9, 2020 and November 16-20, 2020 were only communicated to President Zuma’s attorneys on Friday, September 18, 2020.” , records the statement.
“Without provocation, the president calls the press conference, implying that [former] President Zuma or his lawyers have challenged him when they have not even responded to the letter of September 18, 2020. It is regrettable, although not surprising, that he decides that the way to address the matter is through the media. “
Zuma’s reasons for not attending this week included: preparation for his criminal trial in relation to the arms deal in which French arms firm Thales is a co-defendant, medical advice on how to limit his movements in light of Covid-19, and Zuma looking for a lawyer after a critical change. in the research regulations in July 2020.
Curious and curious
On Monday morning, Zondo said: “I do not want to comment at this time on his reasons for deciding that he would not appear before this commission this week.”
Zondo announced that on Friday, October 9, 2020, it would hear a request from the legal team of the investigation arguing that it authorizes the issuance of a subpoena against Zuma.
Zondo’s Dilemma: Will the judge subpoena Zuma?
The recent statement from the Zuma foundation hints at a possible legal retort to any argument Zondo may hear early next month. It reads:
“The so-called subpoena-related request seems redundant and debatable as it relates to dates that have passed.
“It is clear to us that the Commission’s legal team, in their curious wisdom, believes that it can turn an old request, with an old set of facts, into a new request for a future subpoena.”
Jump left, step right
Zuma’s cooperation with the investigation has faltered. The last day of his first appearance in mid-2019 began with the withdrawal of his participation in the process completely, as he was effectively being interrogated.
On Friday July 19, 2019, attorney Muzi Sikhakhane SC announced: “My client has instructed me that she will no longer participate in these proceedings. He respected you, he still respects you. He respects the commission, but the commission doesn’t seem to know its ground rules. “
Zuma sat in the witness seat with his arms crossed and listened as his lawyer warned Zondo against political interference in the work of the investigation. Sikhakhane indicated that Zuma’s team was contemplating going to court to challenge the commission.
I am imploring you. I think there is something wrong, not with you, not with any person in particular, I beg you sir, really check if your process has not turned into a political process where the left hand does not know what the hand is doing right. Sikhakhane said to the applause from the gallery of Zuma fans.
Following discussions in the chambers, Zuma changed his mind and vowed to return to the commission. Since then, however, she has yet to reappear before Zondo. To critics, this is clear proof of Zuma’s notorious Stalingrad strategy.
Out of power, Jacob Zuma is still Lord Stalingrad
“I’m perfectly ok”
Zuma, who is 78, has raised ongoing health concerns among the reasons he didn’t show up to Zondo. He also cited poor health as a reason for not appearing in court at his criminal trial.
“If the former president, Mr. Jacob Zuma, wishes to say something against Ms. Redi Tlhabi’s request for permission to testify and cross-examine him, he must deliver his submissions in writing to the secretary on or before Monday, December 9, 2019” . Zondo said last year.
Zuma did not meet the December 2019 deadline and his lawyers notified the secretariat that he was receiving medical treatment for poisoning in Cuba. Zuma returned to South Africa via France, on a commercial flight.
Weeks later, the former president recovered. On Friday, December 27, 2019, the Zuma foundation held its annual chess tournament near its Nkandla farm in KwaZulu-Natal.
Zuma said: “I heard some people say that they saw him in the chess tournament, but that he is so weak that he could not even play. Why didn’t you ask me how I feel? Why write something without asking me? What happens? Because I have all my strength. I’m perfectly ok “.
A cry for help
To the extent that the violations against Zondo in Wednesday’s JG Zuma Foundation statement reflect Zuma’s own views, the document indicates a growing resentment against the second-in-command of the South African judiciary.
Whoever the author of the statement is has urged Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng to intervene:
“We call on the President of the Supreme Court to remind the President that he is not above the law and that he is responsible to the Constitution and not to those who seek to sell the theory of the capture of the State that only serves to punish certain people while protecting those who are by now powerful. “
Zuma’s detractors will view his foundation’s declaration as further proof of his reluctance to answer for his conduct as Head of State, particularly his welcoming relationship with the Gupta family.
Three months after Zuma’s only appearance before Zondo, his son Duduzane Zuma testified. “He’s my man,” said young Zuma of Rajesh “Tony” Gupta, who has since been blacklisted by the US Treasury.
In October 2019, Duduzane Zuma concluded her testimony with a twist:
“They look at me as a criminal, and this face of corruption, this guy who has looted billions from this country, which is not the case, by the way, so I would like to tell the public that ‘I am not corrupt, I do not take money from him. nobody, ”he said.
The same month, the United States Treasury sanctioned the three Gupta brothers and close associate Salim Essa. Most recently, the Industrial Development Corporation received an order to access Gupta’s financial records held at more than a dozen banks in New York.
Because Zuma was unable to appear this week, Zondo provided five days for his evidence in November 2020. Previously, Zuma testified for five days in July 2019. The evidence heard since Monday, September 21, 2020 has flagrantly focused on a home. wasteful R1 billion project in the Free State. DM
