Second corruption blow in days for Zuma

SOUTH AFRICA’S High Court has ruled that President Jacob Zuma must set up a judicial inquiry into state influence-peddling within 30 days.

Upholding a recommendation by South Africa’s corruption-fighting Public Protector, High Court Judge President Dunstan Mlambo said an application by Mr Zuma challenging the inquiry was “ill-advised and reckless” and an abuse of the judicial process.

The ruling comes days after the same court dealt a stinging rebuke to Mr Zuma by ruling that his appointment of a state prosecutor to decide whether to reinstate corruption charges against him was not valid and should be set aside immediately.

It was not immediately clear if Mr Zuma would appeal. The 75-year-old has denied numerous corruption allegations since taking office in 2009. But historic charges reinstated in October have increased pressure on him to step down before his term ends in 2019.