Zuma dares Constitutional Court as he refuses its ruling and refuses to co-operate with the Zondo Commission

Thabisile Khomo

Former president, Jacob Zuma has put his foot down and refused to co-operate with the Judge Zondo led Commission of Enquiry on State Capture.

In a statement issued by the Gedleyihlekisa Zuma Foundation on Monday, the former statesman said he’s prepared to go to prison to personally defend the constitutional rights that he fought hard for and serve whatever sentence that government deems appropriate.

“I do not fear being arrested, I do not fear being convicted, nor do I fear being incarcerated. I joined the struggle against the racist apartheid government and the unjust oppression of the black people by the whites in the country at a very young age.

“I had never imagined that there would come a time when a democratic government in South Africa built on constitutional values would behave exactly like apartheid government in creating legal processes designed to target specific individuals in the society,” Zuma said.

His response comes after the Constitutional Court ruled last week that he was compelled to appear before the commission chaired by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo on February 15.

In the ruling, it was made clear that he had no right to remain silent as he must answer all the questions posed to him.

Judge Zondo took legal action after Zuma allegedly walked out of the commission in November last year.

In a lengthy statement, Zuma continued that he had initially indicated that it was the chairman of the commission, Deputy Chief Justice Zondo that he was not willing to work with, citing biasness and history of personal relations with him as reasons.

“I believe his presiding over proceedings does not provide me certainty of a just a fair hearing. Zondo has, unprovoked, called special press conferences to​ make specific announcements about me.

“This has never happened to any other witness. Recently the commission ran to the Constitutional Court on an urgent basis to get the court to compel me to attend at the commission and give answers, effectively undermining a litany of my constitutional rights including a right to the presumption of innocence,” he said.

Zuma went on and said it was clear that the laws of this country were politicised even in the highest court in the land.

“Recently at the State Capture Commission the allegations made against the judiciary have been overlooked and suppressed by the chairperson himself. It is patently clear to me that I’m being singled out for different and special treatment by the judiciary and legal system as a whole.

“I therefore state in advance that the commission of enquiry into allegations of state capture can expect no further cooperation from me in any of their processes going forward.

“If this stance is considered to be a violation of their law, then let their law take it’s course,” he said.

In his statement he also revealed that he was fuming that his children and other family members were being harassed as they have had their bank accounts closed, all this as an attempt to get to him.