Former president Jacob Zuma has absconded from the commission of inquiry into state capture after his application for the recusal of the chairperson, deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo, was dismissed.
This he did without seeking permission from Zondo, who had issued a summons for Zuma to present himself at the commission from Monday until Friday.
Zondo said this was a “serious matter” and that the commission will reflect on the next course of action.
After the ruling dismissing Zuma's application, the former president's senior counsel, advocate Muzi Sikhakhane, told Zondo that they were “excusing ourselves” from the proceedings.
Zondo called for a brief adjournment to decide the way forward but Zuma and his legal team left and never returned to hear the verdict.
“Mr Zuma has left, I have been told. Mr Zuma had been issued with summons to be here from Monday until tomorrow unless he was excused by me,” said Zondo.
“On Tuesday his lawyers asked me to excuse him for yesterday to attend a funeral, I excused him from attending the proceedings [for that day].
“He has left today without asking me to be excused. This is a serious matter.
“In terms of the plans for the commission, he was going to be asked to take the witness stand and be questioned about various matters relating to matters we are investigating as the commission.
“It is a pity that he has elected to leave without asking for permission.”
Because of this, Zondo has adjourned proceedings for the week, but emphasised that the commission will not be derailed and will be back for hearings next Monday.
Sikhakhane has indicated that Zuma will challenge the dismissal of his application for Zondo's recusal in court and file a complaint against him at the Judicial Service Commission.
“The instruction is to review your decision. You will realise, chairperson, that you have become a judge in the disputes that involve yourself in that you determine disputes in matters that arise that include you,” said Sikhakhane.
“Insofar as it concerns you being a judge in your own matter, I want to say we have also been instructed to lodge a complaint about you in the Judicial Service Commission because you have made yourself a witness and a judge.
“We would like to be excused from these proceedings.”
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