Jacob Zuma state capture inquiry zondo

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Zuma vs Zondo: Expect fireworks at the State Capture Inquiry on Monday…

If you’re having a late breakfast tomorrow, may we recommend you stock up on popcorn? Jacob Zuma is appearing at the Zondo Commission – with a bone to pick.

Jacob Zuma state capture inquiry zondo

Photo: Gallo Images

Monday promises to be an iconic day for the State Capture Inquiry. Some 16 months after his first appearance at the Zondo Commission, Jacob Zuma will return to answer questions about the rampant government corruption that took place during his nine years as president. But many more sub-plots are set to play out.

Will Jacob Zuma appear at the State Capture Inquiry?

It’s hard to know where to start on this one. But Zuma’s scheduled appearance itself is the result of enforced litigation and an aggressive pursuit from the camp of DCJ Raymond Zondo. Jacob Zuma has delayed, stalled and postponed his ‘second-coming’ at every possible turn. This time, he has finally ran out of alternative avenues.

Msholozi was officially summoned to the panel last month, after successfully dodging previous attempts to compel his appearance: Zuma has either been too ill, too busy, or too concerned about his ongoing corruption trial. It has taken a legal ‘Hail Mary’ to get to this point – but uBaba’s lawyers also have an ace up their sleeve.

Raymond Zondo facing ‘recusal’ bid

The session gets underway at 10:00 on Monday morning, and we’re expecting drama from minute one. Jacob Zuma is planning an application to have Raymond Zondo ‘recused’ from the State Capture Inquiry. He wants the DCJ removed from his role as the chief of the commission, claiming that Zondo is ‘biased’ and ‘too conflicted’ to grill the former president.

Last month, it was revealed that the DCJ had a child with the sister of one of Zuma’s wives. For JZ, this constitutes a conflict of interest. But Zondo has dismissed the link as ‘tenuous’. Either way, the recusal attempt threatens to overshadow what will be a key day of testimony, relating to the 78-year-old’s alleged influence at state-owned companies.

As soon as proceedings begin tomorrow, we are expecting fireworks. The already-fractious mood between Zuma and Zondoa won’t be helped when the DCJ has his integrity formally questioned. What is more, the commission leader has recently been losing patience with some ‘obstructive’ witnesses – and a similar showdown could erupt here.