Things set to heat up for Zuma and pals

Much-anticipated parameters for state capture inquiry announced

ANY ILL-gotten gains attained through a potentially compromised relationship between President Jacob Zuma and his family and the Guptas have made it to the highly anticipated Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Zondo Commission, tasked with investigating state capture.

The terms were published in the Government Gazette yesterday after the president decided on the parameters.

Zuma’s parameters mostly followed the recommendations made by former public protector Thuli Madonsela in her 2016 State of Capture report.

Zuma’s drawing up of the ToR had become a potential sticking point with opposition parties, some ANC members, pundits and citizens, as it was feared he might unnecessarily broaden or obfuscate the parameters in a bid to whitewash any allegations made against him and his family.

Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo will head the commission, which is set to run over 180 days, but he has a mammoth task ahead as Zuma has included probing all state corruption to ascertain “the nature and extent of corruption, if any, in the awarding of contracts and tenders to companies, business entities or organisations by government departments, agencies and entities”.

“In particular, whether any member of the national executive (including the president), public official, functionary of any organ of state influence the awarding of tenders to benefit themselves, their families or entities in which they held a personal interest.”

Zuma has further directed the commission to investigate allegations that former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas and ex-ANC MP Vytjie Mentor were offered cabinet posts by the Gupta family and whether the president played a role in the offers.

Justice Zondo will also have to determine whether the Guptas or any other

THE EXTENT OF CORRUPTION, IF ANY, IN AWARDING OF TENDERS WILL COME UNDER SCRUTINY