Jacob Zuma state capture inquiry assassination

South Africa – Johannesburg, Parktown – 15 July 2019 – Commission of Inquiry into State Capture. Former President Jacob Zuma appears on his first day at the Zondo Commission.
Picture: Karen Sandison/African News Agency(ANA)

Former President Jacob Zuma to return to Zondo Commission on Friday

Former President Jacob Zuma will return to the Commission on Friday, after proceedings were halted on Wednesday.

Jacob Zuma state capture inquiry assassination

South Africa – Johannesburg, Parktown – 15 July 2019 – Commission of Inquiry into State Capture. Former President Jacob Zuma appears on his first day at the Zondo Commission.
Picture: Karen Sandison/African News Agency(ANA)

The Zondo commission is set to resume tomorrow after the president and his legal team used today’s adjournment to advise Jacob Zuma on whether he should continue to give testimony in the inquiry into state capture.

Zuma’s lawyers took issue with the manner in which their client was questioned characterising it as a cross-examination. During the course of proceedings, Justice Zondo has been at pains to clarify the roles of all parties in the proceedings.

On Wednesday Jacob Zuma’s legal team dramatically called for an adjournment as they felt they needed to determine whether it was indeed in their client’s best interests to continue giving evidence.

Justice Zondo granted the adjournment until Friday to give the Zuma’s lawyers a chance to advise their client. The feeling was that Jacob Zuma was being cross-examined.

In broad terms, a commission of inquiry serves as an inquisitorial process. Which is to say the purpose of the commission is not to prove guilt or innocence but rather to gather information.

“I have a view that my client was brought in under false pretences. My client is clearly being cross-examined. I want my client to consider his position – I advised him to come here in bona fides, and I do not think I was right.” said Advocate Muzi Sikhakhane SC.

Jacob Zuma’s appearance at the commission is directly as a result of him being named in earlier testimony. With this in mind, it’s perhaps understandable that Zuma and his legal team have take issue with some of the questionings.

The confirmation that the inquiry will go ahead tomorrow brings to an end fears that the former president may withdraw from the commission entirely.

After three days at the commission, Zuma had failed to bring any more clarity to his role in state capture with his testimony mostly being that he didn’t know or couldn’t remember when allegations were put to him.

Zuma is expected to continue to give evidence around the allegation that he had put pressure on ministers to deploy specific individuals to state-owned enterprises.

Before the commission adjourned on Wednesday Zuma had denied having anything to do with the deployment of individuals and had explained that cadre deployment was the responsibility of an ANC committee.

With the consultation behind them, the inquiry is set to continue tomorrow morning from 10:00.
The venue is open to the public but will be limited to 200 members with security at a premium, especially in light of the threats which Jacob Zuma and his family have been alleged to receive.