Zuma horror tales keep on growing

TEN years ago those who were hell-bent on delivering a Jacob Zuma presidency were steadfast in their highly misguided belief that he was indeed a “man of the people”, as they called him.

Over the years he has shown beyond doubt that not only does he not belong in the Union Buildings, he is in fact dangerous for our democracy.

This weekend’s revelations about the Zuma family and its dealings with key figures of the criminal underworld are spine-chilling.

Journalist Jacques Pauw’s book The President’s Keepers gives fascinating insight into the kind of people in Zuma’s circle.

The book alleges that while still the head of state, Zuma was for a period paid R1-million a month by a friend’s security company.

It alleges that the president owes SARS more than R60-million in taxes – a claim denied by the Presidency yesterday.

It also alleges that suspected tobacco smugglers were funding Zuma’s son, Edward, for his political influence.

The weight of these allegations sheds some light on the intricate world of money, politics and crime.

While these allegations are a further indictment on Zuma himself, they also lend credence to fears that a Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma presidency is likely to be an extension of Zuma’s rogue empire.

It has emerged from this book that self-confessed criminal and cigarette manufacturer Adriano Mazzotti is allegedly funding Dlamini-Zuma’s presidential campaign.

Mazzotti has denied this, but evidence suggests otherwise.

Dlamini-Zuma supporters often argue that there is no evidence of corruption on her part. This may be true.

However, it is also true that we can tell much about one’s character from the company they keep.

So far, Dlamini-Zuma’s circle paints a disturbing picture of what may lie in store for this country, should she make it to the highest office in the land.