Former President Zuma may face further criminal charges should he fail to appear before State Capture Commission again

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The Commission of Inquiry into State Capture say they are not happy with the recent media statement released by the former President Mr Jacob Zuma saying he won’t be appearing before the commission to give his testimony.

This follows a recent Constitutional Court’s judgement which ordered him to appear before the Commission to give his testimony following Hus walkout of the Commission after his attempt to have the Commission’s Chair Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo excused when he gives his evidence.

In a state sure leased by the they say it is sad and worrying to see a former head of state who is supposed to lead example outrightly disregards and disobeys the law.

The Commission say that it seems that Mr Zuma considers himself to be above the law and the Constitution.

“The Constitution expressly provides that an order or decision issued by a Court binds all persons to whom it applies. Therefore, Mr Zuma is, in terms of the Constitution, expressly bound by the order of the Constitutional Court. Mr Zuma’s decision that he will defy the order of the country’s highest court and the summons of the Commission is completely unacceptable in a constitutional democracy such as ours.”

“With regard to Mr. Zuma’s decision not to appear before the Commission during the week of the 18th to the 22nd of January 2021 as he had been required to do in terms of one of the Commission’s summonses served on him, the Chairperson has asked the Secretary of the Commission to lay a criminal complaint against Mr. Zuma. In this regard the Commission’s Legal Team will assist the Secretary.”

Following the former President’s failure to appear before the Commission in January 2021, the Commission has now set out a separate date on 15 to 19 February 2021.

They say that they will take it from there should he once again fail to appear before the Commission.