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Zuma, who assumed the presidency in 2009, was forced to resign in February 2018 over corruption scandals.
A corruption investigation in South Africa will issue a subpoena for former President Jacob Zuma to appear to testify next month, the judge presiding over the process said.
Supreme Court Vice President Raymond Zondo said on Friday that Zuma is scheduled to appear Nov. 16-20, adding that this could be via video link if necessary arrangements are made.
“The secretary of the commission is hereby authorized and ordered to sign and issue a subpoena … requiring the appearance of Mr. Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma, former president of the Republic of South Africa,” said Zondo.
Zuma, who took office in 2009, was forced to resign in February 2018 over corruption scandals centered on an Indian business family, the Guptas, who won lucrative contracts with state-owned companies and allegedly even got to elect cabinet ministers.
Chaired by Supreme Court Vice President Zondo, the commission was created in 2018 to hear testimony from ministers, former ministers, government officials, and company executives on alleged corruption during Zuma’s tenure.
So far, at least 34 witnesses have directly and indirectly implicated Zuma in corruption allegations, according to commission advocate Paul Pretorius.
“It is important that Mr. Zuma appear before the commission, as most of the alleged corruption took place when he was president of the country,” said Pretorius.
Zuma appeared in the investigation in July 2019, but has refused to return and now says that Zondo is biased against him and wants to publicly humiliate him. He has denied breaking the law with the Guptas.
The Guptas have refuted the allegations of wrongdoing. They left South Africa around the time Zuma was removed from power.
Zuma has previously said through his attorneys that he was unable to attend the investigation. Among his reasons are that he was preparing for a criminal trial and that his doctors had advised him to limit his movements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Zuma said through his attorneys last month that he would request Zondo’s disqualification.
“I am giving him the opportunity to come here and clear his name,” Zondo said, adding that non-compliance amounted to “a crime,” since the commission’s legal powers are equivalent to those of a higher court.
Dozens of Zuma supporters dressed in military uniforms and T-shirts bearing Zuma’s portrait chanted “Leave Zuma alone” while protesting outside the commission’s offices in Johannesburg.
They asked Zondo to recuse himself, accusing him of being anti-Zuma.
Zuma’s successor president, Cyril Ramaphosa, has vowed to tackle corruption in South Africa, which has been led by the African National Congress (ANC) since Nelson Mandela came to power in 1994 after the end of apartheid.
Several members of the ANC are being investigated for past corruption and more recent cases of alleged wrongdoing, including the purchase of coronavirus supplies in Africa’s worst-hit country.
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