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Editorial: Zuma, we want the truth

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CONSPIRACIES Former president Jacob Zuma at the commission of inquiry into state capture. Picture: Felix Dlangamandla
CONSPIRACIES Former president Jacob Zuma at the commission of inquiry into state capture. Picture: Felix Dlangamandla

On the first day of Jacob Zuma’s appearance at the state capture commission of inquiry, he went off on a conspiratorial rant.

Instead of addressing the myriad allegations that he was at the centre of the pernicious state capture project, he painted himself as a victim of multiple forces that were hellbent on derailing his resistance to imperialism and his support of the black cause.

The former president dropped what he believed were bombshells, accusing ANC leaders who had spoken against his corruption of having been apartheid spies.

It was a pathetic rant from a once-powerful man who now wanted pity because the sins he had committed with impunity were catching up with him.

Commission chair Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo exercised the patience of Job and let him blabber on.

When it came to answering questions from the commission’s evidence leaders, Zuma was evasive and amnesic.

His abrasive legal team even threatened to withdraw their client from the proceedings, claiming unfair treatment.

Since then Zuma has been playing the commission, avoiding returning to talk about the real issues with which the process is concerned.

His main excuse has been a supposedly debilitating condition.

His team played this card again this week, claiming the illness was so bad that the earliest he could appear was only in March.

This is the same man who less than four weeks ago attended his annual Nkandla Christmas festivities and boasted about his health.

“I have all my strength. I’m perfectly fine,” an ebullient Zuma said.

We have no right to doubt Zuma’s claims of terrible illness, it is just that his condition has such good timing.

Now there are indications he might challenge the very basis on which the Zondo commission was established and does its work.

This after failing to respond to the devastating and detailed evidence about his corruption and corruptive influence over others given by many high-profile witnesses.

It is clear Zuma is employing the same Stalingrad tactics that he has used to avoid criminal prosecution for the past decade and a half.

Although he has a right to use the legal system to his satisfaction, he has a responsibility to answer to the 58 million South Africans whose country he led.

We want to hear your truth, Zuma.

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