Madonsela hits back at Zuma: Just because you didn't appoint the judge doesn't make the process unjust

07 July 2021 - 07:00 By cebelihle bhengu
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
Former public protector Prof Thuli Madonsela says former president Jacob Zuma is painting himself as the victim. File photo.
Former public protector Prof Thuli Madonsela says former president Jacob Zuma is painting himself as the victim. File photo.
Image: TREVOR SAMSON

Former public protector Thuli Madonsela has dismissed claims by former president Jacob Zuma that she violated the law when she gave the power to appoint the chairperson of the state capture inquiry to chief justice Mogoeng Mogoeng. 

Addressing his supporters from Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, on Sunday, the former president accused Madonsela of conspiring against him during the process of establishing the state capture commission of inquiry. 

“It all started with that lady [Thuli Madonsela]. This was a conspiracy to say Zuma must not appoint the judge to chair the commission even as he is constitutionally empowered to set up a judicial inquiry,” said Zuma. 

He added that Mogoeng initially appointed Seraj Desai, but there was an about-turn the next day when he was told Desai was unwell and announced deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo as the new chairperson of the commission.  

“How is that unjust?” Madonsela questioned in an interview with TimesLIVE.

“If you have to appear before the commission like hundreds of people who have been asked to appear before the commission, is it unjust that they did not appoint the judge, but they have to appear before a judge that was appointed by someone else? That is a ridiculous accusation on its own because the fact that you did not appoint the judge does not make it unjust that they have to judge you,” said Madonsela.

The former public protector said Zuma is playing politics.

“One day, he will tell the truth. I'm sure one day he will say, 'No, I was playing politics because I needed to be seen as the victim so that I could get support.' He understands that the appointment of judges in SA is a two-stage process. The only distinction here was that instead of giving him multiple names, he should only be given one name,” said Madonsela.

Madonsela said Zuma, as the former president, did not indicate that there was a conflict of interest between him and Zondo when Zondo was appointed.

“He had a duty to make sure that he doesn't appoint someone who has a conflict of interest. Is he now telling the nation that he neglected that responsibility? He was the only appointing authority and he had a duty to make the right decision,” said Madonsela.

At the weekend, Zuma accused Zondo of abusing his power and reiterated that he should have recused himself from the commission to allow him to testify. 


subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now