Zuma Tells Zondo Commission: Conspiracy To Murder Him, No Unlawful Relationship with Gupta Family
JOHANNESBURG – Former South African president Jacob Zuma told the Zondo Commission on Monday morning that there has been a conspiracy against him for over 20 years, which began with an attempted “character assassination” and at one point included a detailed murder plot that he escaped. He claimed that after the ANC was unbanned in […]
JOHANNESBURG – Former South African president Jacob Zuma told the Zondo Commission on Monday morning that there has been a conspiracy against him for over 20 years, which began with an attempted “character assassination” and at one point included a detailed murder plot that he escaped.
He claimed that after the ANC was unbanned in 1990, three organisations (two foreign intelligence agencies based overseas and one in South Africa) infiltrated the ANC with their own spies who worked for years on a campaign to oust Zuma (because in his original position of Chief of Intelligence he had gathered too much information on them) and to make their own people the leaders.
Zuma claimed there was a murder plot against him, that was meant to take place in Durban.
“What saved my life was because I did not go there,” he said, referring to the stadium where the murder was apparently going to take place. “People were sent from outside the country to come and kill me, but I’ve been patient, not saying a thing.”
He says now however he has been “provoked to the last degree” and that perhaps being “respectable” despite these people campaigning against him should now take a back seat.
Zuma said: “There has been a drive to remove me from the scene, a wish that I should disappear.”
South Africans around the country (and world) are sitting gripped, watching Zuma give testimony, with some describing it as “better than the worst soapies”.
Zuma said: “The plan made way back has been working, and our enemies have recruited more.” He said it is some of them “who influence this commission to bury Zuma”.
The former president claims: “I want peace. I want harmony… I’m not feeling bitter”.
Addressing Judge Raymond Zondo directly, Zuma said: “It’s important for you Chair to realise that some of the things I’m dealing with are very big and very deep, and it’s important to know it’s a plan that is being implemented against Zuma…”
He said since some of the people who have appeared at the Zondo commission are “part of the plot to kill me, perhaps it is important before I die, I tell the story… the plan to kill me in Durban was detailed. It involved people brought in from outside the country. It will make you realise that for me the matter is bigger than meets the eye.”
Many South Africans are hoping that Zondo will crack through the “hapless victim” image that Zuma is portraying, denying all wrongdoing. South Africans are keen to finally find some answers to the billions of rands which are alleged to have been siphoned off the state’s coffers.
No law broken in relationship with Gupta family
Zuma also told the corruption inquiry that he has never broken the law in his relationship with the Gupta family. (The Gupta brothers’ influence over Zuma while he was president is at the centre of accusations of state capture.)
“I never did anything with them unlawfully, they just remained friends,” he said.
“Never, never did I discuss any matter that does not belong to them.”
Zuma claimed: “They were business people and successful business people. I’m not a business person, I know nothing about business, I’m a politician, I know something about politics.”
After pointing out several times that the media in South Africa has been biased and unfair, Zuma did however reveal that it is he whose idea it was to create AN7 which would broadcast more progressive ideas.
He said rather than the Gupta family influencing him, “I suggested the newspaper and the TV channel. It was me… because I said your paper is so successful. I’m sure your TV thing could be successful too. And they agreed, and they moved on it… I thought it was a very good thing they did. NO law was broken.”
Zuma said he constantly hears “Zuma is hiding something with the Gupta’s” but “what is it that I’ve done wrong? Many other people are friends to these comrades, but they’re not the issue. The issue is Zuma.” He said two other presidents have been friends with the Gupta family.
Of the accusations that “Zuma auctioned South Africa to the Gupta’s”, Zuma joked: “”Did I auction Table Mountain? Did I auction Johannesburg?”