LISTEN: Duduzane Zuma ready to testify at state capture inquiry
Former President Jacob Zuma’s son Duduzane Zuma has agreed to testify before the commission of inquiry into state capture.
The about-turn was confirmed by his lawyers in a letter to the commission.
The head of the commission’s legal team, Advocate Paul Pretorius, told the commission on Monday that the letter was sent at the weekend.
“Paragraph four reads as follows: Since Thursday and after affording our client an opportunity to consider the arguments of 6 September 2018, we have now received instructions from Mr Duduzane Zuma to inform the commissioner that he has prepared and tenders to give evidence as a witness before the commission with respect to the subject matter raised by Mr. Jonas in his evidence,” read Pretorius.
Last week his lawyers argued he wouldn’t be able to testify as he is set to appear before the Commercial Crimes Court in January facing charges related to conspiracy to commit corruption.
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Both matters relate to the alleged bribe offered to former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas.
In his testimony, Jonas told the commission that Zuma arranged a meeting where Ajay Gupta allegedly offered him R600 million to become finance minister.
“He said everything they do is legal, and that they create jobs and contribute to the economy. He said at the moment they earn about R6 billion from the fiscus, through various entities including Eskom, Transnet, and government departments. He said they wanted to increase the amount to R8 billion and they thought I could be helpful in this regard,” Jonas told the commission.
While Zuma’s lawyers have indicated he would give testimony in response to Jonas evidence, former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor also mentioned Zuma had introduced him to the Gupta brothers on a plane to Dubai in 2010.
This was before they allegedly offered her the position of Minister of Public Enterprises.
The commission’s chairperson, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, has welcomed Duduzane Zuma’s decision.
“It is good for the process of the commission that Mr. Duduzane has made the decision to tender evidence in this commission. Of course, that immediately places him in the same position as some of the applicants for leave to cross-examine. When I finalise my consideration of his application I will take note of this development.”