Zuma to be Served Summons to Appear at Zondo Commission

After repeatedly excusing himself from appearing before the Zondo Commission investigation state capture, and demanding that the commission chief recuse himself, former president Jacob Zuma will be issued a summons to appear at 10 am on the 16 to 20 November, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo ordered today.

“Failure to comply with the instructions of the Chairperson is the (sic) criminal Act,” Zondo was quoted saying on the commission’s Twitter account.

Zondo said the summons might include an option to do appear via video link instead of appearing in person. The commission needs to wrap up its hearings by March 2021. At least 34 witnesses have implicated Zuma in their testimony.

Zuma was meant to appear for a week in September, but his attorneys wrote to Zondo saying that he couldn’t come because he was preparing for his criminal trial – the Arms Deal – and his doctors advised him to limit his movements because of his age and COVID. In July Zuma appeared for three very frustrating days at the commission, where he answered most questions with an “I don’t remember” or “I don’t know.”

It was reported earlier this week that Zuma’s lawyer Eric Mabuza had written to Zondo asking him to recuse himself before of his bias against Zuma. As Stephen Grootes wrote in Daily Maverick: “The former president’s latest move against the chair of the Zondo Commission is a new low, even for him.”