Criminal charge to be opened against Jacob Zuma after state capture inquiry walkout

The state capture inquiry chairperson, deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo, is going for the jugular in his ongoing tussle with former president Jacob Zuma.

This after Zuma walked out of the inquiry hearing last Thursday after Zondo ruled against his recusal application.

Zondo said the law is binding and it was not up to Zuma to excuse himself from the inquiry. 

Zondo on Monday instructed the secretary of the inquiry to lodge a criminal complaint with the police against Zuma.

According to the Commissions Act of 1947, anyone absconding from summons to appear before such a forum, as Zuma did, is liable to a fine or even imprisonment of up to six months if found guilty.

Zondo further announced he will issue Zuma with new dates to appear again.

This move will be accompanied by an urgent application to the Constitutional Court to enforce such summons on Zuma.

It remains to be seen how this will be affected by Zuma's application for a review of Zondo's dismissal of his application for recusal.

Zondo said he was "very clear" about what he was doing and wanted to send a strong message that his commission was not a spaza shop.  

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