Duduzane Zuma state capture inquiry

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – NOVEMBER 4: President Jacob Zuma’s son Duduzane Zuma at the Randburg Margistrate Court on November 4, 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Zuma’s was attending an inquest into a crash in which taxi passenger Phumzile Dube died after his Porsche hit the back of the taxi and the taxi overturned. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sowetan / Antonio Muchave)

Duduzane Zuma confident of escaping conviction

The businessman maintained his innocence in a court affidavit.

Duduzane Zuma state capture inquiry

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – NOVEMBER 4: President Jacob Zuma’s son Duduzane Zuma at the Randburg Margistrate Court on November 4, 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Zuma’s was attending an inquest into a crash in which taxi passenger Phumzile Dube died after his Porsche hit the back of the taxi and the taxi overturned. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sowetan / Antonio Muchave)

Duduzane Zuma is quite bullish about his chances of escaping conviction in the corruption case brought against him.

The businessman was heavily shackled as he appeared on the dock on Monday morning, following allegations that he was part of a plot by the infamous Gupta family to bribe former Deputy Minister of Finance Mcebisi Jonas.

As TimesLive reports, Duduzane – son of former president Jacob Zuma – insisted in a court affidavit, filed at the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court that he is not guilty of any wrongdoing.

“I do not fear any conviction with reference to the said matter‚” he stated in the affidavit.

“I am informed that the current charges apparently relate to allegations that I was allegedly present when Mr Ajay Gupta made certain alleged proposals and promises to Mr M Jonas to become the new Minister of Finance on 23 October 2015. Apparently he also offered to pay him some monies.”

Zuma – who returned home for the funeral of younger brother, Vusi – was arrested last week also faces charges of culpable homicide, after he was involved in an accident which claimed the lives of two people back in 2014.

His well-documented relationship with the Guptas could see him face more legal trouble, with the looming inquiry into state capture.

“I am returning to South Africa fully aware of the fact that there is a pending commission of enquiry on state capture at which I may have to give evidence and at which I may indeed wish to give evidence‚ if I am required to do so,” he said.

Zuma was granted bail of R100 000, and his passports were returned after he was deemed not to be a flight risk. He told the court, in his bail affidavit, that he needed to be able to travel abroad for his work commitments.

Read: Duduzane Zuma may be stuck in South Africa, forced to face justice