Former South African president Jacob Zuma, who was forced out of office last year over corruption allegations, will attend a judicial inquiry into government graft during his tenure even though he believes it is prejudiced against him
“He is going to the commission as invited” from July 15-19, Zuma’s lawyer Daniel Mantsha said on Tuesday.
However, “our client remains of the view that the commission is prejudiced against him and lacks the requisite impartiality,” Mantsha wrote separately in a letter to the inquiry seen by Reuters.
The letter did not specify if Zuma would testify or answer questions. It described last week’s invitation from the commission for Zuma to attend – in which it said he had been implicated in graft by at least nine witnesses – as part of a “disinformation campaign”.
The inquiry’s primary brief is to investigate allegations of corruption, notably at state firms Eskom and South African Airways, which are in drowning in debt after years of mismanagement.
It is reviewing accusations that three prominent businessmen – brothers Atul, Ajay and Rajesh Gupta — unduly influenced Zuma during his presidency about political appointments and the awarding of state contracts.
The former president denies all allegations against him.
