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Former President Jacob Zuma appears on the Zondo commission.
PHOTO: Sharon Seretlo, Gallo Images
- Former President Jacob Zuma “is not afraid that the Zondo commission will find out nothing” about the state capture.
- Zuma wants Supreme Court Vice President Raymond Zondo to stand down as president.
- The commission’s test leader said Zuma’s request regarding Zondo appears to be based on political conspiracies.
Former President Jacob Zuma is not afraid of any findings, his legal adviser, defender Muzi Sikhakhane, told the Zondo commission on state capture.
Sikhakhane was arguing why the chairman of the commission, Supreme Court Deputy Chairman Raymond Zondo, should be recused.
The commission’s evidence leader, defender Paul Pretorius, said it’s hard not to conclude that the real reason Zuma filed such a request is that he is apprehensive that there will be findings against him.
Zuma’s request was heard Monday.
Sikhakhane argued that the commission has fueled a narrative that Zuma “ruined our country,” and that Zondo’s comments, particularly to “beloved witnesses” with an ax to grind at Zuma, aided in that narrative.
Political conspiracies
“There’s something wrong with the way this was set up. It wasn’t thought through. It was politically motivated in thought,” Sikhakhane said.
Sikhakhane stated:
The challenges you and I now face are challenges caused by the fact that those who thought of this thought of bringing Mr. Zuma down, and nothing more.
Then-President Jacob Zuma established the commission in January 2018, on the eve of a meeting of the ANC NEC that was expected to discuss his removal. He had exhausted legal options to set aside the recommendation of former public protector Thuli Madonsela for the establishment of such a commission, and its chairman would be appointed by the Chief Justice.
Pretorius said Sikhakhane appears to include political conspiracies in his reasons for wanting Zondo to be recused.
He said there was no indication of actual bias recorded.
Pretorius said:
In short, Mr. Zuma must be listened to and his version must be considered.
He said he does not understand how this constitutes bias.
Pretorius said Zondo is obligated to do everything in his power to ensure that Zuma appears before the commission.
He added that Zondo is also obliged to hire witnesses because their role is investigative and must obtain all the versions before the commission.
“There is no doubt that the former president is central to the commission’s work,” Pretorius said.
He said that is why they need to hear your testimony.
He said that, so far, Zuma has not provided his full cooperation, and one can only hope that he will from now on.
He said challenging Zondo would collapse the commission.
‘In the mind of my client’
In response, Sikhakhane said that he seriously opposed Pretorius’s arguments.
“I know of no less law than attorney Pretorius,” he said.
He argued that he was “selling conspiracies.”
“I exposed what is on my client’s mind,” he said, adding that he found it offensive.
He also said it was insulting and unfair to say that Zuma is apprehensive about the findings.
“He’s afraid they won’t find him.”
Zondo postponed the procedure until 10:00 on Tuesday.
He said he will consider submissions overnight and provide a decision as soon as possible.
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