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The former president accused Supreme Court Vice President Raymond Zondo of bias and said he would not be able to evaluate his evidence in the state’s arrest investigation in an independent and fair manner.
Former President Jacob Zuma checks his phone while at the state capture investigation in Johannesburg on November 17, 2020. Image: Abigail Javier / EWN
JOHANNESBURG – Proceedings at the state capture commission of inquiry ended on a dramatic note Thursday after Supreme Court Chief Justice Raymond Zondo refused to recuse himself at the request of former President Jacob Zuma.
Zuma delayed his appearance on the commission more than three times, with the decision to dismiss his application being the latest measure.
That meant he would have had to be on the witness stand Thursday, but he left the proceedings in Braamfontein without Zondo’s permission.
LOOK: Zondo dismisses the offer of recusal, the intention of Zuma to appeal and leave
Zuma accused Zondo of bias, saying he could not independently and fairly evaluate his evidence.
However, Zondo again asserted that the former president’s opinion was without merit and that it was too late to question his chairmanship of the commission three years after his appointment.
“In fact, the applicant to date has not submitted to the commission the affidavits it made in July of last year that it would provide to the commission. In these circumstances, it cannot fall into the applicant’s mouth to say that the commission has ignored the issues it raised in its evidence, ”Zondo said.
Zuma’s lawyer, lawyer Muzi Sikhakhane, said they planned to report Zondo to the Judicial Service Commission (JSE), arguing that he had acted as a witness and judge in a matter he presided over.
• READ ALSO: Zuma will file a complaint with JSC about Zondo as a ‘judge’ on disqualification
“You have become a judge in a dispute that involves yourself,” Sikhakhane said.
Meanwhile, Zuma could be arrested for defying the summons issued to appear before the commission.
Legal expert Lawson Naidoo said the commission could explore two options to force Zuma to testify.
He said the commission could issue an arrest warrant for Zuma.
“The other option the commission has is to file a criminal charge because failure to comply with the subpoena is a criminal offense under the Commissions Act,” Naidoo said.
Previously, Zondo described the matter as serious and said the commission needed to reflect on it.
The proceedings were postponed until Monday.
LOOK: Judgment on Zuma’s request to disqualify Zondo
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