Staff Reporter
The ANC says it will allow former president Jacob Zuma time to consult with his legal team on his position on whether or not to appear at the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture.
ANC secretary general Ace Magashule told a media briefing on Monday evening that the party’s top six met virtually with Zuma in a seven-hour meeting which he described as very constructive and positive.
“We have agreed with president Zuma, as the top six, to continuously engage on issues and matters . . . around the Zondo commission,” he said.
The meeting started at 10:30am and ended at 5:30pm.
“The meeting went very well,” Magashule said.
“The meeting is a follow-up to the last NEC meeting . . . where the top six was requested to engage with . . . to best understand his position around his appearance before the . . . commission.
“The meeting exchanged views on a variety of issues including, but not limited to, the decision by the former president not to present himself physically before the commission.”
Magashule said Zuma was not defying the commission nor the constitution of the country but he had issues with the way things were being done.
“Cde Zuma made a very extensive presentation on his decision not to appear before the . . . Zondo commission and he also talked about his rights as enshrined in the constitution of South Africa . . . and we all agreed there has not been any intention to undermine the constitution of the country,” the ANC secretary general said.
“Cde Zuma told the top six that he believes he has been subjected to unfair persecution and prosecution for over two decades.
“He emphasised that as a law-abiding citizen, he respects the constitution and that he too is entitled to basic rights.”
Zuma defied a Constitutional Court order for him to cooperate with the Zondo commission.
The former president, through his lawyers, has written to the commission stating that he will not be returning to testify after its chairperson, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo refused to recuse himself.
Zuma had argued that he had a personal relationship with Zondo, a claim that has been denied by the chairperson.
He last gave evidence at the commission in 2019.
The commission was set up to investigate allegations of corruption and state capture when Zuma led the country.
Zuma’s rural home, Nkandla, has played host to hoards of well-wishers visiting him in recent weeks.
It’s believed some have been trying to convince him to return to the commission and give his side of the story.
Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema recently visited Zuma for what has since been dubbed a tea party.
Police Mminister Bheki Cele also paid him a visit as well as many other people.
Zondo has asked the Constitutional Court to give Zuma a two-year prison term for defying its order.