Zuma’s inquiry ‘is coming, my dear’

The president is in no rush to establish commission of inquiry into state capture.

President Jacob Zuma said yesterday as soon as his legal challenge to the former public protector’s State of Capture report had been dealt with, he would begin the commission of inquiry.

“We are waiting for the judgment. What I know in terms of the law in this country is that if the matter is in court, I couldn’t establish a commission of the same thing. You can’t. Lawyers say it is a matter, it is sub joo di cuuur [ sub judice],” said Zuma to much laughter in parliament.

“I’m ready after the judgment. We will prove the liars and the truths, it is coming, my dear, don’t worry,” said Zuma.

With only four more Q&A sessions on his schedule left, Zuma easily turned myriad accusations flung at him.

He stuck to his tried and tested formula of blanket denials, admitting nothing, while raising the shield of apartheid to protect himself.

Zuma denied receiving money from people, denied recklessly appointing police commissioners and said poverty was “a direct baby of apartheid, particularly to the majority”.

“Don’t present the problem of poverty as a problem of this government. This government is solving that problem,” said Zuma, ignoring the 27.7% unemployed elephant in the National Assembly.

When challenged by DA leader Mmusi Maimane over Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini’s appointment this too, was apartheid’s fault.

“I don’t know why the honourable member is saying all the problems we face are not the problems of apartheid, why are you defending apartheid?” Zuma asked Maimane.

“You are a victim of apartheid, you. I don’t know why you defend it. Absolutely, I don’t understand. You defend apartheid … Who created the problem in this country? The honourable member who was also oppressed, how can he say apartheid did not do damage, the damage was done by us now,” Zuma said.