President to attend anti-graft hearing
SOUTH AFRICAN president Cyril Ramaphosa this week will make his second appearance before a panel investigating the alleged looting of the state coffers under his scandal-tainted predecessor Jacob Zuma (above).
The commission, tasked with uncovering the full extent of official corruption, will make recommendations to prosecutors when it wraps up 34 months of hearings at the end of June.
Zuma appointed a fact-finding panel after a 2016 report by South Africa’s antigraft watchdog identified him as a kingpin of patronage and malfeasance.
He said the commission would prove his innocence and erase public doubt over the government’s commitment to eradicating “all forms of corruption”.
More than 270 witnesses, including politicians, business people, civil servants and anonymous state security agents, have testified in front of the commission. Many referred to a wealthy Indian immigrant family headed by three brothers – Ajay, Atul and Rajesh Gupta – who are accused of having wielded undue influence over Zuma.
The brothers are at the centre of the 2016 graft report, which claims they paid bribes to influence ministerial appointments and plunder state organs.
They fled South Africa shortly after the commission started, and their whereabouts are unknown.
One witness described bags bulging with cash, sometimes totalling as much as six million rand (£302,992.5) in a month, being delivered to ANC bigwigs during secret meetings in upmarket hotels, in exchange for the awarding of lucrative contracts to one private company.
Some witnesses and whistleblowers, including some who remained anonymous, have reported receiving death threats since they testified.
Zuma first appeared before the commission in July 2019, denying any wrongdoing. He withdrew two days later, complaining of being “treated as someone who was accused”.
The commission has asked the top court to jail Zuma for two years for contempt of court. To date, the anti-graft panel has cost South African taxpayers over 800 million rand. The president will testify again on Thursday (13) and Friday (14) .