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By Baldwin Ndaba 
1 hour ago
Johannesburg – Former President Jacob Zuma could face a criminal charge of contempt of the State Seizure Commission of Inquiry following his departure from the hearing, moments after his request to disqualify the chairman of the investigation, Judge Raymond, was dismissed. Zondo.
Commenting on Zuma’s decision not to comply with his subpoenas and instead approach the higher court to review Judge Zondo’s ruling, legal expert Paul Hoffman SC, said his decision to withdraw was in contempt of the commission and He was exposed to criminal proceedings.
“The first thing you must do to avoid prosecution is go to court and seek an injunction that prevents the commission from executing your arrest for contempt of commission. You have to convince the court that you are entitled to the injunction.
“He will not be able to convince the court. You must go to the commission to present your testimony or face a criminal trial, ”Hoffman said.
Benni Lekubu, from Unisa Law School in Pretoria, voiced similar warnings on Thursday. He said the Zuma strike on Thursday simply showed that he “has no respect for Judge Zondo. He has no respect for the commission and the process ”.
As the commission contemplated its next move on Zuma, Lekubu said he would likely sit down for the weekend and seek legal advice on the matter.
“The commission is different from a court of law. They can decide to defend Judge Zondo’s ruling on Mr. Zuma’s request for review or compel him to appear and testify before the commission, ”Lekubu said.
“Given that the commission’s mandate will end in March 2021, it is important that the commission compel Mr. Zuma to testify and respond to 35 witnesses who implicated him in the state capture. Their evidence should be included in the report that is expected to be delivered to President Cyril Ramaphosa for his decision. “
Following Zuma’s threats to report Judge Zondo to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), Lekubu said he would not win his case.
On Thursday, Judge Zondo said Zuma left the commission without his permission, but did not reveal what action he would take against him.
Zuma’s legal advisor, attorney Muzi Sikhakhane, said after the application was dismissed that they would take the matter up for review in higher court.
Sikhakhane also informed the commission that they would report Judge Zondo to the JSC for being “a witness and judge on his own commission.”
When the commission went for tea, Zuma and Sikhakhane never returned.
In dismissing Zuma’s request for disqualification, Judge Zondo said: “Mr. Zuma failed a reasonable apprehension test of partiality and his request should be dismissed. Consequently, it is dismissed. “
He also rejected Zuma’s version that he visited him at his official residence in Durban a few days after his appointment as head of the commission. In Zuma’s affidavit presented to the commission on Wednesday, he said that Judge Zondo’s visit to his official residence was part of a continuation of their friendship, but the commission chairman denied this.
“Following my appointment as head of the commission by the Chief Justice (Mogoeng Mogoeng), he informed me that the former president wanted to meet with me. In fact, she had visited him at his residence. It was an official meeting, ”Judge Zondo said.
He also said it was too late for the former president to reject his appointment for nearly three years, then said he should have raised the issue of their alleged friendship during the initial stages of his appointment.
Political Bureau
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