Zuma ‘buying time’ on state capture report

PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma faces a backlash from opposition parties which questioned his decision to request the court to postpone next Tuesday’s application to interdict the state capture report.

Zuma wants the court to stop the release of the report and reopen the investigation into state capture because he wants to question some of the witnesses, including his own ministers.

But this has angered opposition parties, which say they will oppose Zuma’s request to postpone the hearing in the Pretoria High Court. The DA, Cope and UDM said this was another delaying tactic to block the release of the report.

They said Zuma had, from March 22, failed to respond to questions sent to him by former public protector Thuli Madonsela. But Zuma is now demanding that the investigation into state capture be reopened.

Madonsela had indicated her report was final. This was before she left office and Zuma interdicted the release of the report.

DA leader Mmusi Maimane said he would not allow Zuma to use delaying tactics as parties wanted the report to be released as soon as possible.

The DA is one of the intervening parties in the state capture report. Maimane lodged a complaint with Madonsela immediately after allegations of state capture emerged in March.

UDM leader Bantu Holomisa said his party would oppose Zuma’s latest attempt to prevent the release of the report, while Cope spokesman Dennis Bloem accused Zuma of trying to stall the release of the report.

“This is a delaying tactic by Zuma. The man did the same with the Nkandla report; he was playing for time,” said Bloem.

Madonsela complained Zuma had taken 14 months to respond to the questions she had sent to him regarding Nkandla. She said he had not responded to all queries and had left crucial questions unanswered.

Bloem said this was an unnecessary delay and the people wanted the report.

“The case must go ahead on Tuesday and that report must be released soon,” he said.