Jacob Zuma misses Zondo deadline, lawyers allege he is not in SA

Former president, Jacob Zuma, was due to submit his official response to Redi Tlhabi’s application for cross-examination at the State Capture Inquiry. However, it’s believed that DCJ Raymond Zondo was already made aware of the fact that Zuma was going to miss his deadline.

Jacob Zuma at SCI: What will Zondo do now?

As reported by Sowetan, Zuma’s lawyers submitted a letter to Zondo, revealing that the state of the former president’s health — since he was due to give testimony between 11 and 15 November — had not improved.

Zuma was given until Monday, 9 December, to submit an affidavit in response to Tlhabi’s application for cross-examination. This relates to comments the former president made in his inaugural appearance about how Tlhabi, a renowned journalist, was an agent of external forces trying to destroy his character.

Zondo has been left in a morally awkward place. He has indicated before that, if need be, he may subpoena Zuma, forcing the former president to come out of hiding to face the grilling at the inquiry.

“Should the commission be of the view that a witness who has failed, without good reason, to appear before itis likely to do the same in the future, the commission will invoke its powers of compulsion to secure the appearance of that witness before it in the future.”

DCJ Raymond Zondo, State Capture Inquiry

He also indicated to the cited publication that he has the necessary authority to request a medical certificate from Zuma as proof that he was, indeed, too ill to honour his commitment to return to the hot seat.

Where in the world is Zuma?

The one thing that makes this all the more complicated is the fact that Zuma may be hospitalised in Cuba. This is what was noted in the letters drafted by the former president’s lawyers. It was also a report that Sunday World broke recently.

While details around his hospital admission are murky, it is believed that Zuma’s health has deteriorated since he was allegedly poisoned in 2014.

This alleged attack was pinned on his former wife, Nompumelelo Ntuli-Zuma, but for all these years, the NPA has refused to pursue the case, citing a lack of sufficient forensic evidence proving that he had been poisoned.

Since it was reported that Zuma’s been struggling with health issues, the former president has missed:

• a scheduled appearance at the Zondo commission;
• the last ANC NEC meeting of the year; and
• his permanent stay of prosecution appeal bid at the Pietermaritzburg High Court.

Interestingly, neither the ANC nor his vocal spokesperson, Vukile Mathabela, have not confirmed the rumours. If anything, Zuma’s party was surprised to hear of the news from journalists.

“Well, like yourselves, we’ve seen media reports that suggest the health of the former president of the ANC might be ailing. If that was to be true, we of course wish him well and a speedy recovery,” ANC spokesperson, Pule Mabe, told reporters.

Presidency spokesperson, Khusela Diko, refused to comment on the matter on behalf of Cyril Ramaphosa’ office, and redirected all queries to Mathabela who, like Zuma, has gone awol.