Zuma bids to quell state capture report

PRETORIA: The public protector’s report into state capture is unlawful and should not be made public.

This forms part of President Jacob Zuma’s latest bid to stop publication of the report.

In a supplementary affidavit signed at the weekend, Zuma gave notice he was going to ask the court for permission to amend his application. Zuma said now that it was a final report, he wanted it to be declared unlawful.

The report deals with complaints of improper and unethical conduct by the president and officials of State organs due to their alleged inappropriate relationship with members of the wealthy Gupta family.

He wants new Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane to provide him with all the evidence adverse to him, so he can effectively exercise his rights in terms of the Public Protector Act. He also wants to pose questions to the witnesses, which former public protector Thuli Madonsela consulted in coming to her findings in her report.

Zuma also requires a “reasonable opportunity” to provide answers to questions posed to him earlier this month by Madonsela. Zuma said the procedural requirements laid down by the law had been infringed and therefore the final report was unlawful.

The application is set down to serve before a full bench (three judges) tomorrow. It is believed that Judge President Dunstan Mlambo will be one of the judges.