# Other countries : South Africa’s Supreme Court on Thursday ordered Jacob Zuma to testify before the Commission of Inquiry on suspicion of widespread corruption during the presidency, which is exerting pressure on the former head of state who is trying to evade the law is.
For months, the former president managed to avoid testifying, claiming his right to appeal or remain silent.
For the last time in January, the former head of state made known through his lawyers, that he would not attend. The hearing did not take place in the end, with the chairman of the committee to separate himself after testing positive for a close aide, Kovid-19.
This final summons was also awarded to Zuma from 15 to 19 February to come and testify.
Read: Zuma trial: South African justice denies French group Thales’ request
“Jacob Zuma has been ordered to appear before the commission on the dates he has set and testify,” the South African Constitutional Court ordered in a ruling on Thursday. He said that he does not have the right to remain silent during this process.
Zuma once testified before the Commission in July 2019 under the chairmanship of Judge Raymond Zondo. But he retired after a few days, noting that he was treated as an “accused” and not as a witness.
In early October, the Anti-Corruption Commission took a step to give testimony to the former head, threatening that a crime without cause would be a “criminal offense”.
After months of playing cat and mouse, Zuma finally introduces himself, but does not hear the sound of his voice. And the hearing focused on examining the former president’s request to challenge Raymond Zondo, according to him, “fair”.
Read: South Africa: Anti-corruption judges want police to investigate Zuma
The Commission responded by appealing to the Constitutional Court, so that it could rule on Zuma’s obligation to testify.
Mired in scandals, the former president (2009-2018) was forced to resign and was replaced by Cyril Ramaphosa, who promised to eradicate corruption.
The Commission of Inquiry, which was originally scheduled to sit until March, should request an extension due to delays due to the Kovid-19 epidemic. She has already heard from dozens of ministers or former ministers, elected officials, businessmen or senior officials who have stopped the dirty laundry of the Zuma era.
Internet geek. Wannabe bacon enthusiast. Web trailblazer. Music maven. Entrepreneur. Pop culture fan.