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Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has criticized the Jacob Zuma Foundation’s decision to appoint Defender Tembeka Ngcukaitobi in his latest statement.
The foundation issued a statement on Friday supporting former President Jacob Zuma’s decision to withdraw from the Zondo Commission without the permission of President Raymond Zondo, alleging that Zuma was facing criminal prosecutions engineered by Zondo, assisted by Ngcukaitobi.
The Foundation also questioned the presence of lawyer Tembeka Ngcukaitobi in the Zondo chambers on Thursday.
“We are also very concerned about reports that when Zuma’s legal team went to see the president in the chambers, they found the president of Ngcukaitobi SC, whose role in the president’s chambers was not explained. It is worrying that the president allowed such irregularities to occur in this matter, ”the statement read.
“We call on all Zuma supporters as he faces criminal proceedings plotted by the evidentiary leaders and the president irregularly assisted by Ngcukaitobi SC, who also represents other parties appearing before the same commission.”
But the EFF leader says the foundation should know better than to expose lawyers to danger by appointing them.
“Appointing advocates / attorneys on a matter involving your client is irresponsible and exposes advocates to unnecessary danger. The JZ Foundation and the people who write their statements should know better, ”Malema said.
The National Association of Democratic Lawyers has also defended Ngcukaitobi and attorney Paul Pretorius SC, following the foundation’s statement.
“Apart from lacking facts and logic, these attacks are also unfortunate. We trust that the foundation will reflect on this in due course and issue the appropriate retractions and apologies, ”he said.
Also read: ‘We want the law to take its course’, says the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation after Zuma’s departure
Zuma left the commission without Zondo’s permission after his request to impeach the president was dismissed.
The former president said the two were friends, claims Zondo denied.
Zuma’s attorney, attorney Muzi Sikhakane SC, told Zondo that he would be biased against his client. Sikhakhane threatened to raise his complaints to the Judicial Service Commission after the request was dismissed on Thursday.
Also read: Zuma condemned by former ANC activists
“We support President Zuma and congratulate him on his firm stance to walk away from the Commission. In fact, it is a comedy of errors, reeling from one mistake to another, ”the statement said.
“We congratulate President Zuma for risking everything so as not to legitimize an irregular process disguised as a legitimate Commission.”
Meanwhile, civil society organizations have called on the Zondo to deal decisively with Zuma.
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