[ad_1]
Former President Jacob Zuma before the Zondo Commission in 2019.
Felix Dlangamandla, Netwerk24
- Supreme Court Vice President Raymond Zondo issued an order authorizing the issuance of a subpoena for Jacob Zuma to appear before the state’s arrest investigation.
- He said Zuma should appear before the commission on November 16-20.
- Zondo said he was satisfied that this was a matter where the request should be granted.
The chairman of the state’s capture investigation, Supreme Court Vice President Raymond Zondo, issued an order authorizing the issuance of a subpoena requiring former President Jacob Zuma to appear before the commission for five days in November.
Zondo granted the order Friday morning after hearing a request that was submitted by the commission’s legal team.
Zuma’s lawyers were not present at the commission.
Zondo said that after reading the affidavits presented to him, he was “satisfied” that it was a matter on which the request should be granted.
“I am convinced that a suitable case has been made for an order authorizing the commission secretary to sign and issue a subpoena against Mr. Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma, former president of the Republic of South Africa, to appear before the commission at 10:00 am from November 16 to 20, 2020 “.
He said that if Zuma made the appropriate arrangements with the commission ahead of the dates to provide evidence via video link “that would be sufficient compliance with the subpoena.”
On Friday morning, the head of the legal team, attorney Paul Pretorius SC, told Zondo that issuing subpoenas was not an uncommon practice. He said the commission had already issued 99 subpoenas for witnesses to appear.
Pretorius said that no one has the right not to appear before the commission.
ONLY IN: DCJ Zondo has issued an order authorizing the issuance of a subpoena for former President Jacob Zuma to appear before the #StateCaptureInquiry from November 16 to 20 at 10:00. @ TeamNews24
– Jeanette Chabalala (@J_chabalala) October 9, 2020
He also said that Zuma’s evidence was necessary and desirable for the commission’s work.
Pretorius said the former president’s evidence was necessary because most of the corruption and acts that could constitute state capture occurred during his tenure.
READ | ‘You attack Ace Magashule, you attack us’ – supporters during the march to the Zondo commission
He also added that 34 people who had already appeared before Zondo had implicated the former president.
In September, Zondo gave Zuma non-negotiable dates to appear before the state’s arrest investigation.
He announced that the new dates for Zuma’s appearance to testify will be November 16-20.
Zuma was originally scheduled to appear before the commission on September 21-25.
However, his lawyers said he would not appear.
His attorney, Eric Mabuza, wrote to the commission saying it was unfair to expect his client to simultaneously consider the evidence and affidavits of more than 30 witnesses to prepare to appear this month.
READ ALSO | State Capture: Zuma’s legal team in dispute with commission over appearance
Mabuza also said that Zuma was preparing for his long-awaited criminal trial, “the importance of which cannot be overstated.”
But on Friday morning, Pretorius said that was not “a sufficient reason to refuse to appear.”
“But if the former president believes that he is, you preside, you will exercise your discretion in terms of your mandate. You will exercise your discretion in terms of the directives that govern your presidency of the commission,” Pretorius said.
After Zondo issued an ultimatum for Zuma to appear in November, the former president’s attorneys wrote again to the commission, asking Zondo to recuse himself due to his “partial bias” toward the former leader.
Zuma stated that he believed the commission of inquiry was “attacking” him.
Did you know that you can comment on this article? Subscribe to News24 and add your voice to the conversation.
[ad_2]
