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NEWS
In a final attempt not to appear before the Zondo commission as ordered by a subpoena issued by the commission’s chairman, Supreme Court Vice President Raymond Zondo, the legal team of former President Jacob Zuma filed a request for Zondo to recuse himself as president. of the commission.
In an affidavit delivered to the commission Thursday, in support of Zuma’s request that Zondo recuse himself from “presiding over matters that concern me and my family,” Zuma’s legal team said that the vice president of the Supreme Court he had a “predisposition” against the former president and was determined to find him guilty regardless of the facts.
They argued that “Zondo should have refused to chair the commission, whose mandate indicates that I was going to be the main implicated.”
In the affidavit, dated November 10, Zuma argues that his reasons for requesting the disqualification of Zondo include the fact that “in my absence, the president has made various comments the effect of which is to suggest that I am already guilty of the crime. state capture “.
“The president has singled me out for public announcements, addressing issues related to me through the media. I am the only witness for whom the president has issued many press releases. “
My relationship with the Vice President of the Supreme Court dates back to the early 1990s, when he was a lawyer and partner at the firm known as Mathe-Zondo Attorneys in Durban.
Jacob Zuma
According to the lengthy affidavit, Zondo “clearly doubts” his “good faith,” as Zuma argues that “on two occasions” the president “questioned or doubted” statements that he had indeed traveled to seek medical care in Cuba.
The former president also accused the evidentiary leaders of the commission of bias in the way they identified the witnesses, saying that “they intended to call only those witnesses who are members of his cabinet who implicate him.”
Zuma also maintains that his “close personal relationship” with Zondo, which has now become familiar, should have been enough for the latter to recuse himself from the start.
“My relationship with the Vice President of the Supreme Court dates back to the early 1990s, when he was a lawyer and partner at the firm known as Mathe-Zondo Attorneys in Durban.”
Zuma says that he “interacted” with Zondo and his legal partner seeking legal advice, and during this period he developed “a good relationship with the Vice President of the Supreme Court and constantly consulted him on various professional matters.”
According to Zuma, this professional relationship turned into a personal relationship, and he and Zondo met constantly on “social occasions and public gatherings organized by the government.”
He then details how he met Thobeka Madiba, whose sister Zondo had a child out of wedlock, thus turning their relationship from personal to family.
Read: Zondo confirms he has a child with Madiba’s sister, but dismisses Zuma’s claims of conflict of interest
Zuma alleged that as a result of this close relationship, Zondo has visited their home on numerous occasions.
He also recalls an instance in which Zondo was elevated to the bench and how at that time “they discussed whether our personal relationship would endanger his judicial career.”
The request comes when Zuma is supposed to appear before Zondo on Monday, after the former president was summoned to appear at the Nov. 16-20 commission.
The commission’s secretary, Itumeleng Mosala, initially wrote to Zuma’s attorney, defender Eric Mabuza, asking Mabuza if his high-profile client would honor the scheduled appearance.
What didn’t sit well with Zuma’s legal team was that Mosala opened her letter by giving them an ultimatum that Mabuza should inform the commission no later than 12 noon on November 12, 2020 if Zuma would make it to the commission.
I take this opportunity to warn your client that even if your legal team plans to move his request for disqualification of the president, that will not be a valid reason for him not complying with the subpoena.
Secretary of the Itumeleng Mosala Commission
Mosala appeared to have written following Zuma’s legal team without giving the commission a definitive answer on whether she would voluntarily appear before the commission.
“If I receive a response that does not inform the commission that your client will comply with the subpoena, I will assume that your client does not intend to comply with the subpoena,” Mosala wrote to Mabuza.
He also reminded Zuma’s legal team that his client had not submitted a formal request to seek Zondo’s disqualification as the team had previously indicated, and as such could not simply disable it.
“The commission has indicated that, to date, its client has not presented its request to challenge the president, which it indicated more than five weeks ago that it would be filing. Your client should have applied for a long time if he persists in his request that the president recuse himself.
“I take this opportunity to warn your client that even if his legal team plans to move his request for impeachment of the president, that will not be a valid reason for him not to comply with the subpoena on November 16, 2020. He is obligated to Comply with the subpoena as your legal team moves any request that you are directed to make on your behalf. The commission has considered it important to make this clear before Monday, November 16, 2020, ”Mosala wrote.
Read: Zondo’s actions against Zuma are unjustified
An enraged Mabuza responded, informing Mosala that she had no right or powers to warn him or his client of anything related to her appearance.
“We take a strong exception to the condescending tone of your letter and your attempt to intimidate or [former] President Zuma. Your conduct is completely unnecessary and unjustified.
“The Vice President of the Supreme Court has never treated us with the disrespect that he shows us. In any case, their conduct will only serve to harden attitudes on this delicate matter, ”Mabuza said in response.
On Friday, the Zondo commission sent a statement to the media informing the general public that Zuma’s legal team had submitted a formal request for Zondo to recuse himself.
The commission indicated that Zuma, having initially indicated that he will appear before the commission and even tried to do so via video link, the former president had since filed the lawsuit that would now be known on Monday.
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