The Jacob Zuma Foundation has come out in support of Jacob Zuma, saying the state capture findings are biased and one-sided against the former president. The findings in the report highlighted that Jacob Zuma should be investigated for possible corruption over accepting gratifications and in exchange, preventing government departments from cancelling Bosasa contacts.
Jacob Zuma alleges that he was not afforded a chance to give his statement at the commission. The commission called the former president to account on more than one occasion at the commission after the former president claimed to be sick in the first hearing.
Zuma tried to remove the sitting chairperson Judge Raymond Zondo from the seat, claiming that he has a close relationship with the chairperson and that would be reasonable grounds of bias against him. The request by Jacob Zuma for Judge Zondo to recuse himself failed and Jacob Zuma then launched a walkout of the commission.
Judge Zondo approached the court to order Zuma to go and answer to the commission, but Zuma did not attend. Zuma was found to be in contempt of court and received a prison sentence of which he was released on the grounds of medical parole.
Also read: President Zuma must go back to jail, medical parole ‘unlawful’
The report has also mentioned in the findings that Gwede Manatashe should be investigated for corruption alleging that Bosasa provided him with free security upgrades at three of his private properties. The report found that the upgrades were unlawful and were made to gain the influence of Manatashe.
In a statement by the Foundation on Wednesday morning, Jacob Zuma insisted that he was not afforded an opportunity to give his side of the story to the State Capture Commission. Zuma said he will consult with his legal team and will decide on the next steps to take.
Source: ENCA, News24, Eyewitness News, Daily Maverick, image from ENCA
