Zondo using commission for political battles, says Shivambu
After it emerged that the State Capture Inquiry might be zeroing in high-ranking members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), the party’s deputy president Floyd Shivambu launched a scathing attack on the commission and its chairperson, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.
Shiavmbu accused Zondo of resorting to fighting political battles, after failing to nail the Gupta family, one of the key figures in the inquiry.
“Now that Zondo & the handled administrators of the State capture commission are failing to pin down the Guptas, they’re using the Commission to fight political battles of Jamnandas & the white capitalist establishment. We will expose their misguided political agenda. Disgusting!,” he tweeted on Sunday, 18 October 2020.
Zondo Commission targeting EFF members – report
According to the Sunday Times, the commission has broadened its scope to include Shivambu, the party’s leader Julius Malema as well as people close to them.
The commission has allegedly issued subpoenas to South Africa’s major banks for access to financial records of members of Malema’s family including his wife Mantoa and his late grandmother.
Shivambu’s brother is reportedly also on their radar – he is implicated in the VBS Mutual Bank scandal, where approximately R2 billion from the now collapsed bank was looted.
Likely responding to the report, Malema seemed less than fazed, implying in a tweet that he was ready to face the commission.
“Nasi iStocko, Zondo Vuli igate,” he tweeted.
Nasi iStocko, Zondo Vuli igate.
— Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) October 18, 2020pic.twitter.com/docL4t449m
EFF MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said they saw it coming after Zondo was called out for not being as tough on Public Enterprises Minister Pravon Gordhan, as he was on former president Jacob Zuma – after they both sought postponements.
The proceedings are looking into allegations of corruption, fraud and money laundering within the public sector. Most of the testimony heard so far has linked Zuma and his friends the Guptas to the alleged looting of state resources.
While Zuma had initially claimed he would play open cards at the commission, there has been some drama surrounding his numerous postponements to appear, after briefly taking the stand in July 2019. He has accused Zondo of being biased and has refused to return unless he recuses himself.
The Gupta family is now believed to be living in Dubai, after fleeing the country in 2018. The only hurdle was that South Africa has no extradition agreement with the United Arab Emirates, but government has since said efforts were continuing.
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