Commission to probe state capture claims

President Jacob Zuma

has appointed a Commission of Inquiry to probe allegations of State capture.

“Pursuant to the investigation and remedial action of the Public Protector regarding complaints and allegations of the State of Capture, as well as the orders issued by the North Gauteng High Court in its judgment of 14 December 2017, I have decided to appoint a Commission of Inquiry,” the President said in a statement.

The court ordered that, among other things, the remedial action of the Public Protector is binding and that the President is directed to appoint a commission of inquiry within 30 days, headed by a judge solely selected by the Chief Justice.

“The allegations that the State has been wrestled out of the hands of its real owners, the people of South Africa, is of paramount importance and are therefore deserving of finality and certainty,” said the President.

“The commission must seek to uncover not just the conduct of some, but of all those who may have rendered our state or parts thereof vulnerable to control by forces other than the public for which government is elected.There should be no area of corruption and culprit that should be spared the extent of this commission of inquiry,” he added.

President Zuma requested Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng to provide him with the name of the judge to head the Commission.

“He has selected Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Mnyamezeli Mlungisi Zondo to undertake this task. I urge everyone to cooperate with the commission of inquiry,” he added.