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Former President Jacob Zuma appears on the Zondo commission.
PHOTO: Sharon Seretlo, Gallo Images
- Former President Jacob Zuma is ready to face jail instead of being “intimidated” by the Zondo commission.
- The Jacob Zuma Foundation also praised the former president for stepping down from the commission on Thursday.
- The foundation said it was very concerned by reports that when Zuma’s legal team went to see Zondo on camera, they found Zondo with attorney Tembeka Ngcukaitobi SC.
Former President Jacob Zuma is ready to face jail instead of being “intimidated” by the judicial commission of inquiry into the state’s capture, led by Supreme Court Vice President Raymond Zondo.
The Jacob Zuma Foundation also praised the former president for stepping down from the commission during a tea break on Thursday.
Zuma wanted Zondo to recuse himself from the commission before he could appear, claiming that he and the vice president of the Supreme Court were friends, and that Zondo had had a child with the sister of one of his friends.
READ | Zuma drops state arrest investigation despite subpoena
Zuma’s attorney, defender Muzi Sikhakane SC, told Zondo that he would be biased against her and that Zondo was a witness and judge in a dispute involving Zondo.
Sikhakhane threatened to raise his complaints to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
Zondo denied that there was a friendship or relationship between him and Zuma that would force him to withdraw from the commission.
The foundation said Friday that it supported the former president, who went on strike after Zondo refused to recuse himself from chairing the commission.
Zondo took the ruling Thursday after Sikhakhane’s legal request that the president recuse himself.
DCJ says this is the serious matter, says that Zuma was supposed to take the witness stand and they would ask him questions, but now he left without being released by the commission. #StateCaptureInquiry
– State Capture Commission (@StateCaptureCom) November 19, 2020
In a statement released by the foundation, he said he was concerned that Zondo would not “realize that as soon as his unusual statement was contradicted, he could not be the arbiter of his own dispute.”
‘Seriously concerned’
“We are very concerned by reports that when Zuma’s legal team went to see Zondo on camera, they found Zondo with (attorney Tembeka) Ngcukaitobi SC, whose role on cameras was not explained. It is concerning that the president allow such irregularities to occur in this matter.
“We are with Zuma and we congratulate him on his firm stance in walking away from the commission.
“We congratulate Zuma for risking everything not to legitimize an irregular process disguised as a legitimate commission,” the foundation said.
DCJ says they return in circumstances where Mr. Zuma has left the building without asking him or without being excused, says Zuma has been summoned to be here unless the president excuses him. #StateCaptureInquiry
– State Capture Commission (@StateCaptureCom) November 19, 2020
The foundation said that Zuma faces criminal proceedings hatched by evidentiary leaders: Zondo assisted by Ngcukaitobi.
“We know that Zuma and his team took this brave stance because they were not prepared to be intimidated and chosen to end their participation regardless of the risk of contempt proceedings.
The foundation said:
Zuma says he would rather face jail than be intimidated by an irregular, manipulated and illegal process. We hope Zondo is aware that those pulling the strings behind the scenes have no interest [sic] in the heart and they will drop it as fast as they chose.
The foundation went on to say that Sikhakhane repeatedly implored the commission to be held accountable, but all those attempts were in vain as “the forces behind the scenes were prepared to risk everything, including the integrity of the president to achieve their nefarious goals.”
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