Former President Jacob Zuma will no longer be a part of the state capture commission proceedings. Zuma’s legal team confirmed the same on Friday morning after letters were sent between his legal team and that of the commission on Thursday, reported Reuters.
“We will take no further part in these proceedings,” said Muzi Sikhakhane, Zuma’s lawyer, told the inquiry.
He alleged that Zuma had been subject to relentless cross-examination. The Zondo commission is currently looking on corruption allegations and influence-peddling charges against the former SA President. The 77-year-old has long denied the allegations against him. He told the inquiry that he had been the victim of a decades-old plot framed by foreign intelligence services and the apartheid government to get rid of him.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Zondo commission had adjourned the proceedings when Zuma said he had a problem with the commission’s evidence leader Paul Pretorius’ line of questioning. The commission gave both legal teams one day to resolve the impasse.
Meanwhile, Raymond Zondo, the Deputy chief justice, has announced that he will intervene to resolve the issue between his legal team at the state capture inquiry and former president Zuma.
“I am disappointed that yesterday (Thursday) a situation was allowed to happen where I went to bed without knowing how the discussion between the commission’s legal teal and the former president’s legal team were going,” Zondo said on Friday.
He adjourned proceedings on Friday and called both legal teams to meet him in his chambers to discuss a way forward.
“I have heard what Sikhakhane has said are his instructions from his client…that he does not intend to participate anymore,” Zondo said. “I do intend, nevertheless, before we reach finality on this matter, to have a session with counsel for the former president and counsel for the commission in my chambers.”
