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By Sihle Mavuso 
8h ago
Durban – Former President Jacob Zuma asked Supreme Court Vice President Raymond Zondo to recuse himself when he appears before the State Capture Commission in November.
In his formal notification to the commission about the request that was first reported by The Star, Zuma told Zondo that he appeared to harbor a personal vendetta against him and, as such, has presented him to the public as uncooperative.
Zuma said that while he had reservations about the legality of the commission, out of respect for the country’s systems, he came forward.
He says that instead of being listened to with due guarantees, he was subjected to unfair treatment in order to humiliate him.
The allegations are contained in a letter written by attorney Eric Mabuza on behalf of Zuma.
In the letter, Zuma referred to Zondo’s press conference last Monday, where the commission chairman said that Zuma must appear before the commission from November 16-20 to respond to allegations of state capture.
Zuma said that this special focus and “targeting” him had been the hallmark of the commission’s approach since it began its proceedings.
“As a result, (former) President Zuma views the recent press conference as the culmination of a series of events for which he was singled out and targeted by the commission,” the letter reads.
Additionally, Zuma said he was not convinced that Zondo will be able to provide him with a fair hearing if he continues to preside over his appearance.
“For the reasons to be fully set out in the soon to be filed application, we (the attorneys) have instructions (from Zuma) to seek your challenge as chair of the commission on the basis that our client reasonably suspects that you have already a partial disposition towards him and cannot bring an impartial mind to the problems and trials that relate to him.
“The conclusion of (former) President Zuma that the president is no longer capable of exercising an independent and impartial mind is reinforced by what he considers the unwarranted public statements made by the president at said press conference.”
Reasons
Laying out the reasons why Zuma believed Zondo should step aside when he shows up in November, he said the couple had a personal background and that it was likely, he said, that Zondo would use the commission to settle old scores.
“(Former) President Zuma believes that the source of the president’s bias against him is due to the fact that the (former) president and the president have historical personal, family, and professional relationships that should have been publicly disclosed by the president earlier. to accept your appointment. “
On Sunday, the Independent Media policy department reached out to the commission’s spokesman, the Rev. Mbuyiselo Stemela for comment.
Stemela said Zondo did not intend to respond to a series of legal letters and public statements criticizing him for the way he handled Zuma’s appearance before the commission.
Political Bureau
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