Zuma Withdraws From State Capture Inquiry
Riyaz Patel
Former president Jacob Zuma will no longer participate in proceedings at the commission on state capture, his lawyer told the public inquiry Friday, accusing evidence leader Adv. Paul Pretorius, of “inefficiency and Orwellian manipulation.”
Adv. Musi Sikhakhane said the “reason they are here to today… is to tell the Commission that they will take “no further part” in proceedings.
The inquiry adjourned late Wednesday after Zuma’s legal team alleged “unfairness” at the hand of evidence leader Adv. Paul Pretorius, and that Zuma had been lured to the Commission “under false pretences.”
Commission chairperson, DCJ Raymond Zondo, following consultations with both sets of legal teams, decided to adjourn matters till Friday.
“Our client, from the beginning, has been treated as someone who’s accused. Our client sat waiting to be treated just like you treated Mr Gordhan, Mr Nene,” Sikhakhane said Friday.
Former president Zuma has been subjected to “relentless cross-examination,” he added.
He said that Zuma and his legal team are exploring options to challenge what was said before – testimonies given at the public inquiry – through the courts.
Zuma’s backers rejoiced.
Zondo said while disappointed, he noted what had been said, and then summoned both sets of legal team to his chambers.
“I do have my ideas of my own that I would like to discuss with them to see whether we can’t find a situation where the concerns raised by the former President can be accommodated,” Zondo said.
Sikhakhane said the crisis was a result of the Commission not knowing the rules the legal team is following.
“The right hand does not know what the left hand is doing,” he charged, accusing Pretorius of “inefficiency, and Orwellian manipulation.”
Pretorius responded that “no person may refuse to answer a question based on the grounds of privilege,” and pointed out that once a person comes before the commission, certain duties and obligations arise.
“That is in effect what is being asked that Mr Zuma be excused from certain rules. If the questions are detailed, difficult, and require him to go back in memory, ‘then so be it,'” Pretorius continued.
Zondo then weighed in saying, “The decision to invite former pres Zuma to the commission was my decision and my decision alone.”
“In this entire room I am the only person who makes decisions and findings about witnesses who come and give evidence about people, state capture and corruption. I am I alone make those decisions,” Zondo emphasized.
Sikhakhane also described one of the letters from the Commission’s legal team as “cheeky,” and said the Commission must assure its client that it is still capable of curing “serious procedural deficiencies.”
“There is something irrational about this parallel approach,” he added.
“Chair, quite frankly this is a joke, Put yourself in his shoes, He is going to engage in this exercise we have submitted should have been the approach to each and every witness,” Sikhakhane said.
Zuma’s supporters burst into song as Zondo adjourned proceedings for tea and consultations.
