Big names coming as Zondo Commission resumes on Friday

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of  State Capture chaired by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo will resume its hearings on Friday, 9 April.

The commission’s secretary, Professor Itumeleng Mosala confirmed the matter to The Citizen on Wednesday morning.

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Mosala said the commission would hear evidence from former public enterprises minister Lynne Brown, former state security minister David Mahlobo and former home affairs minister Malusi Gigaba’s estranged wife Norma Mngoma.

“The commission will also hear an application filed by Mr Gigaba to cross-examine Ms Mngoma,” he said.

Before heading into the Easter weekend, the commission had announced on Twitter that proceedings would resume on Tuesday. However, no hearing took place.

ALSO READ: Ramaphosa calls on ANC members to stop ‘unnecessary attacks’ on Zondo

This means that the commission will go nearly a week – excluding the public holidays – without any action.

Matshela Koko’s testimony

Meanwhile, the last testimony at the commission came from former Eskom chief executive Matshela Koko last week Monday, where he took a dig at President Cyril Ramaphosa ahead of his appearance before the commission later this month.

Koko told Zondo that he would “not rest peacefully” until he knew why Ramaphosa – who was deputy president of South Africa at the time Koko was in office – interfered in the “affairs of Eskom to instruct the board that was yet to meet to dismiss me”.

“So I look forward to Mr Ramaphosa coming here. I hope you have served him with 3.3 Notices. I looked at the documents that were sent to me last night and they were voluminous,” he said.

He says he needs answers from Mr. Ramaphosa and that he won’t rest until Mr. Ramaphosa comes and explains. #StateCaptureInquiry

— State Capture Commission (@StateCaptureCom) March 29, 2021

Ramaphosa is expected to appear before Zondo – on 22, 23, 28 and 29 April 2021 – where he will testify on  behalf of the ANC and also in his capacity as the president and former deputy president of the country.

The President has since confirmed that he will indeed appear at the commission.

Dali Mpofu’s ‘shut up’ incident

Advocate Dali Mpofu caused a stir on social media for his ‘shut up’ comment during public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan’s cross-examination almost two weeks ago.

Proceedings became heated when Mpofu, who cross-examined Gordhan on behalf of former Sars commissioner Tom Moyane, told Michelle le Roux, acting on behalf of the minister, to “shut up”.

Mpofu complained about being interrupted by Le Roux, asking her to allow him to speak.

Zondo described the incident as Mpofu’s comments as “unacceptable and disrespectful to the commission“.

Zuma vs Zondo

The Constitutional Court (ConCourt) heard arguments last month why former president Jacob Zuma should be jailed for his refusal to honour a summons to appear before the commission.

The court ruled in January that Zuma should appear before the commission and answer questions put to him, but he has vowed not to do so, maintaining his stance that he doesn’t fear being arrested.

READ MORE: Zuma jail term might be last resort for ConCourt, says analyst

One of the reasons Zuma has argued for his defiance was that he was still waiting for the outcome of his Pretoria high court application challenging Zondo’s decision in November 2020 not to recuse himself from hearing his testimony.

Zuma faces the possibility of a prison term of two years if he is found guilty of contempt of court while the ConCourt has since reserved judgment on the case.

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