KARYN MAUGHAN: Evidence against Zuma mounts, but he is staying out of the commission fray
'Zuma – who was Monday accused of “protecting” a delinquent cabinet minister accused of wanting to “steal at all costs” – has never responded under oath to the state capture allegations against him'
EXTRACT
In the two weeks of testimony, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo has heard several witnesses implicating Zuma in state capture — most notably former Government Communications and Information Systems (GCIS) CEO Themba Maseko and former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor.
In a letter written to the Zondo Commission, Zuma’s attorney Daniel Mantsha says the statements given by Jonas, Mentor and Maseko do not contain evidence that he violated the law.
This does, however, not mean the former president will not give evidence at the inquiry. He can be subpoenaed to testify, should Zondo believe he has the information required for the commission to get to the truth.
Former president Jacob Zuma doesn’t believe any of the evidence led in the State Capture Inquiry so far implicates him in criminal and ethical wrongdoing – and he has not applied to cross-examine a single witness. Zuma – who was Monday accused of “protecting” a delinquent cabinet minister accused of wanting to “steal at all costs” – has never responded under oath to the state capture allegations against him. During then public protector Thuli Madonsela’s investigations into state capture, he refused to answer a single one of her questions during a four-hour-long interview, on the basis that he wanted to get legal advice before he did so. Questioned about former deputy Finance minister Mcebisi Jonas’s claims that the Guptas had offered him the Finance minister post, Zuma previously responded: “Ask Jonas.” In the two weeks of testimony, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo has heard several witnesses implicating Zuma in state capture — most notably former Government Communications and I...
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