Day of reckoning
NEVER in his wildest dreams did Duduzane Zuma, the 34-year-old son of former president Jacob Zuma, imagine the day would dawn when he would be hauled into court to face corruption charges.
Yesterday morning, in leg irons and suitably meek with a nervous smile, he appeared in the Johannesburg Commercial Crime Court to face charges of corruption, alternatively conspiracy to commit corruption.
Charged in terms of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, Duduzane is facing the music for his alleged involvement in bribery attempts by the Guptas to then deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas in October 2015.
Jonas claimed in an affidavit that he was called to a meeting with Duduzane, Ajay Gupta and businessman Fana Hlongwane, where Gupta allegedly offered him a huge bribe and the position of finance minister if he agreed to work with them.
The provisional charge sheet explains: “At this meeting, Mr Ajay Gupta, in the presence of (Duduzane), offered Mcebisi Jonas the position of finance minister, advising him that the current minister of finance was to be relieved of his position in the cabinet. Mr Ajay Gupta further offered an amount of R600 million to be deposited in a bank account of his choice and R600 000 in cash immediately to assist him and his companies in their business ventures with the government.”
At one stage one of the most powerful unofficial figures, because of his proximity to his father and his alleged ability to influence cabinet appointments, the world is now seemingly falling apart for the young Zuma.
Weekend reports said police are also considering charging him in respect of the Vrede dairy farm matter, in which the Guptas are accused of unlawfully benefiting to the tune of millions in a project meant for emerging black farmers.
Conspicuous by his absence in court yesterday was Ajay Gupta, whose name features prominently in the case. He will no doubt also loom large when the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture finally starts its hearings next month.
The Duduzane Zuma trial, when it starts in January, will hopefully open a window into the state capture saga that has blemished the Jacob Zuma presidency and brought many state-owned enterprises to their knees.
Duduzane’s court appearance is a reassurance that no one is above the law.