Pressure is mounting on the African National Congress to recall President Jacob Zuma. This, as the party’s top leadership meets in East London, Eastern Cape, ahead of the annual January 8 celebration to be held on Saturday.
On Tuesday night, the President announced the establishment of a commission of inquiry into state capture to be headed by Deputy Chief Justice Zondo as recommended by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng.
While the announcement has been largely welcomed, some argue that the President lacks credibility.
It was a surprise move by President Zuma as many were still awaiting more details on his appeal case against an earlier judgement by the North Gauteng High Court, which set aside his review application of former Public Protector Thuli Mandonsela’s State of Capture report.
While the President has not officially abandoned the appeal case, some members of the public believe the President delayed the process of appointing the commission and should therefore be removed.
As the ANC’s National Executive Committee meets to finalise preparations for the January 8 Statement, the opposition are also pinning their hopes that President Zuma’s fate will be sealed at the meeting.
Following the end of his term as ANC president in December, Zuma has become vulnerable as it is not clear what support he enjoys in the NEC.
United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader Bantu Holomisa says President Zuma is a liability for the ANC.
“The people who are on trial, as we speak, are the ANC. We know that the ANC and Zuma never wanted this inquiry. Had it not been for the opposition to challenge the release of the report in the court, this process that you are seeing would not have seen the light.”
“So the best bet for them is just to recall Zuma. We have been telling them, but they are dragging their feet, wasting our time, creating uncertainty, creating anxiety among South Africans.”
The SACP, which is the ANC’s alliance partner, has been amongst those who led calls for the establishment of an inquiry into state capture.
Spokesperson Alex Mashilo says they welcome the establishment of the inquiry, but remain concerned that the president made no mention of its terms of reference.
“His statement did not say anything about it, in terms of reference despite vague reference to the fact that the commission should not investigate some, but all those who are involved in surrendering our state to the control of private individuals.”
“To us, as the SACP, it does not matter whether people involved members of the public, they have to be investigated for that corruption.”
Former Public Protector Thuli Mandonsela has, meanwhile, welcomed the president’s announcement on state capture inquiry, but says the probe could face some challenges due to the delays in its establishment.
Madonsela released the State of Capture report October 2017 and the President has since mounted several court bids to challenge it.
“Corruption is a crime and crime becomes colder everyday when the investigation is not concluded and to investigate and conclude a cold case is a very difficult task. It might not be possible to crack a cold case.”
It was a surprise move by President Zuma as many were still awaiting more details on his appeal case against an earlier judgement by the North Gauteng High Court which set aside his review application of former Public Protector’ Thuli Mandonsela’s State of Capture report.
Click video below:
