Zuma should be criminally charged, says political analyst

Former President Jacob Zuma is delinquent and should be brought to justice, said Dr Oscar van Heerden, political analyst and head of the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection.

This follows the events this week at the Zondo commission, which is investigating the state capture.

Zuma and his legal team, headed by adv. Musi Sikhakhane, filed an application for recusal, which was decided on by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo on Thursday.

According to the information in the application, the Zuma team wanted Zondo to recuse himself from the hearing before former president Jacob Zuma testified to the commission. They said an intimate friendship between Zuma and Zondo was the cause for such an application.

Zondo denied that they were close friends and on Thursday denied the application for recusal. Van Heerden said it is clear Zuma and his legal team is playing for time, as they are stuck in a corner.

ALSO READ: ‘There is no reason Zondo should recuse himself’ – legal expert Dr Llewellyn Curlewis reacts to Jacob Zuma’s application for recusal of Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.

“The fact that they indicated to seek further legal ways for Zondo to recuse from the commission, is proof of their game,” said Van Heerden. After Zondo read his decision, Sikhakhane then indicated that Zuma would excuse himself from the commission.

Adv Paul Pretorius then indicated to Zondo that the commission should decide whether Zuma may leave, not his legal team. The commission then adjourned for tea and some further discussions, after which everyone was supposed to return to the hearing.

Zuma, however, did not return. Zondo remarked that Zuma will probably not return and that he (Zondo) will decide on what the next steps should be. Various analysts and legal experts already indicated that Zuma should be charged with contempt of the commission and be arrested.

Izak du Plessis asked Van Heerden what his opinion is about the events.

Watch the video for his answer.