Former president Jacob Zuma, the man at the centre of the Gupta family’s capture of the SA has responded to the findings of the Zondo commission, saying he is taking the matter to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
Zuma wants the JSC to investigate Chief Justice Raymond Zondo for allegedly making “gross unlawful comments” in the state capture report which related to his release on medical parole last year, by the former national commissioner for correctional services, Arthur Fraser.
Mzwanele Manyi, the foundation’s spokesperson made the announcement during a press briefing in Sandton on Saturday, following the release of the fifth and final report of the inquiry into state capture report which was chaired by Justice Zondo.
The report released by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo on Wednesday reported that Zuma permitted, supported and enabled corruption and state capture during his term as the country’s president.
“Zuma was reduced to a clerical function of appointing Zondo who was selected by the then Chief Justice. The jury is still out as to why the initially chosen chair of the commission, Justice Siraj Desai was mysteriously changed on the day of appointment. In summary we hold the view that given the unlawfulness of how this inquiry was set up, it cannot be that its findings and recommendations are lawful. The report is therefore a classical case of the fruits of a poisoned tree,” Manyi said.
Manyi announced that Zuma briefed his legal team, among other things, to report Zondo to the JSC within the next week or two.
“The JSC will be asked to investigate the grossly unlawful comments by Zondo who took it upon himself to comment on matters pending before the courts,” said Manyi