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The vice president of the Supreme Court and chairman of the state’s capture investigation, Raymond Zondo, granted an order authorizing the issuance of a subpoena for the appearance of former President Jacob Zuma.
On Friday the commission filed a request asking Zondo to direct the issuance of the subpoena to compel the former president to appear before it.
“Having read the affidavits before me, I am satisfied that this is a matter where I must grant the request. I am satisfied that a suitable case has been presented authorizing the issuance of a subpoena against Mr. Gedleyihlekisa Jacob Zuma to appear before the commission at 10 am from November 16 to 20, 2020 at this venue on each of those days ” Zondo said.
Zondo ordered the commission to sign and issue a subpoena requiring Zuma to appear and include in the subpoena that if the former president wanted to present evidence virtually, he would be allowed to do so.
Earlier, attorney Paul Pretorius SC, the head of the commission’s legal team, argued that there were good reasons for Zondo to issue the subpoena.
“The commission has issued more than 2,500 subpoenas. It is not an uncommon mechanism. “
According to Pretorius, 34 witnesses had implicated Zuma.
He argued that Zondo had powers to call Zuma to respond to the accusations.
“When the commission thinks it has information that can help the commission in its investigation, then I can force it to come,” Zondo said.
“He can’t say ‘leave me alone, I’m not interested in you listening to me,’” Zondo said.
The vice president of the Supreme Court said that he would be in breach of his duties if, according to the information presented to him in the commission implicating Zuma, he did not take the necessary steps for him to testify.
Zondo said Zuma had the right to appear before the commission to provide evidence that contradicts the accusations made against him. Zuma could also run to call witnesses who can corroborate his version of events.
Zuma had previously told the commission that he would not be able to appear before her because he was preparing for his criminal trial.
This reason, Zondo said, was not good enough to be unavailable for commission.
Zuma, Zondo said, should ask the court for more time to allow him to prepare for the commission.
“That is not a good enough reason for him not to come to the commission. The reason for issuing the subpoena is for Mr. Zuma to come and testify, ”Zondo said.
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