High-powered team on board for Zondo inquiry

THE commission of inquiry into state capture should deliver an understanding of how deep state capture was in South Africa‚ how it came about and who was involved.

This is the view of Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.

Yesterday, he announced a powerhouse team of people to key positions in the inquiry – of which former auditor-general Terrence Nombembe will be the lead investigator.

Zondo also named three senior counsel to the legal team‚ led by Advocate Paul Pretorius.

The team includes advocates Isaac Maleka‚ Leah Gcabashe and Thandi Norman.

Longtime bureaucrat Dr Khotso de Wee has been appointed secretary of the commission.

“South Africans hopefully will understand the depth of the state capture issue,” Zondo said – “how deep it was and how it came about and what should be done so that South Africa never gets in that situation again.” He said the desired outcome of the commission would be to identify who was involved in state capture.

Zondo said the commission effectively began its work on March 1‚ but it would be a while before public hearings began.

“There is no way we can finish the work of the commission in 180 days‚” he said of the timeline instituted by the former public protector.

President Cyril Ramaphosa was considering the timeline and would make an announcement later.

Zondo said the investigating team‚ led by Nombembe‚ might rely on other investigations by other organs of state‚ including parliament.

He said: “The commission has been given a certain task [which] might mean that certain evidence or certain people in other forums might have to give evidence [here] as well.”

He did not anticipate hostile witnesses‚ saying the law was very clear about those called to testify before a commission.

He said the commission could recommend prosecutions.