Jacob Zuma ‘too busy’ to attend State Capture Inquiry
Jacob Zuma will not attend the State Capture Inquiry as planned later this month, with his lawyer Eric Mabuza claiming that the former president is ‘too busy’ to appear before the Zondo Commission.
Why is Jacob Zuma avoiding the State Capture Inquiry?
The bold declaration comes at a vital time for Jacob Zuma. The 78-year-old is also preparing for the resumption of his arms deal case in Pietermaritzburg, where he faces a multitude of fraud and corruption charges. However, the legal team representing uBaba has made the following arguments to excuse their client from returning to the State Capture Inquiry.
- The dates set down for his State Capture Inquiry appearance – 21 – 25 September – may clash with his corruption case.
- Jacob Zuma will appear in the KZN High Court on 8 September, and his legal team says there is a schedule conflict.
- Msholozi is seeking legal advice on the implications of new regulations, with regards to his “further participation” in the Inquiry.
- Mabuza says the commission ‘does not believe’ JZ was getting treatment in Cuba when last asked to attend proceedings.
Msholozi’s legal team slam the Zondo Commission
According to Mabuza, the criminal trial in KZN is a much more important matter which demands the full attention of Jacob Zuma. They claim that the scheduling of this State Capture Inquiry date is ‘unfair’, and the legal representatives say they are not afraid of threats to subpoena their client if he doesn’t show up:
“Jacob Zuma is preparing for his much-anticipated criminal trial, the importance of which cannot be over-emphasized. It is rather unfair to expect him to also consider evidence and affidavits of more than 30 [State Capture Inquiry] witnesses”
“The Zondo Commission’s ‘threat’ to subpoena Jacob Zuma to testify only serves to demonstrate the disdain with which the State Capture Inquiry’s legal team treats former President Zuma.”
Eric Mabuza
Fmr Pres Zuma’s lawyers say he won’t be able to attend Zondo commission hearings on 21-25Sept – where he’s called to answer questions about evidence given by 30 witnesses
— Karyn Maughan (@karynmaughan) September 3, 2020
Zuma is seeking legal advice on the implications of new regulations on his “further participation” in Inquiry
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