Zuma touted deal in 2011

and replaced with Nhlanhla Nene, who has detailed how the Treasury was shut out of key decision-making processes linked to a potential nuclear deal. Nene testified he was himself fired in 2015, after Zuma became “hostile” towards him over his refusal to sign a guarantee letter that the president wanted to give to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In his statement, Gordhan says the Treasury first became aware of the nuclear deal in 2013 — when the department of energy approached it about “a draft co-operation deal to be signed with Russia”.

Officials in the Treasury had “raised concerns with this draft agreement and its clear objective of creating firm fiscal commitments to Russia by SA”.

Cabinet established a committee to “provide oversight and make decisions regarding a nuclear energy policy and the new build programme, following investigations into costing, financing, technical and operational options” in November 2011, Gordhan says in his affidavit.

It was evident then that Zuma “wished to procure the 9.6GW of nuclear power generating capacity for SA from Russia. Such a transaction has been estimated to cost in excess of R1-trillion, if not more.”

Zuma later took over the chairmanship of the nuclear committee in June 2014, after it was converted to the energy security cabinet subcommittee (ESCC). Its members included former state security minister David Mahlobo, minister of trade & industry Rob Davies and then minister of public enterprises Lynne Brown.

Gordhan says the Zondo commission should “investigate the rationale for these changes and the activities undertaken by the ESCC in advancing ‘the nuclear deal’”.

Zuma’s lawyers have been notified that he has been implicated by Gordhans ’ evidence but have yet to indicate whether they will seek to cross-examine him.