‘We are not friends,’ Zondo tells Zuma at recusal hearing
The chairperson of the commission of inquiry into state capture, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, has denied any friendship or personal relationship with former president Jacob Zuma.
Zuma's legal team, led by Advocate Muzi Sikhakhane, applied for Zondo’s recusal on Monday - citing alleged bias and the fact that the judge fathered a child with his ex-wife's sister.
Zondo started proceedings by clarifying the historical ties between himself and Zuma.
"Mr Zuma's statement that we are friends is not accurate. He has never been to any of the homes that we have lived in. He met my wife in parliament or government.
"Our personal relationship has been a cordial and pleasant one over the years but did not, generally speaking, involve discussions of any serious matters.
"This had to be so because we would normally interact when we met at the opening of Parliament or other government or state functions," Zondo said in a prepared statement.
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The legal team representing the former president is expected to apply for the recusal of the commission's chair, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, on Monday. Zuma doesn't believe he would receive a fair hearing from Zondo, citing alleged bias and the fact that the judge fathered a love child with the sister of Thobeka Mabida, one of the former president's wives.
Zondo also denied that Zuma was behind the success in his judicial career.
According to Zuma's statement, the two had a meeting when Zondo was promoted to the bench in 1997 and decided to draw a line under their friendship to ensure there was no perception of favouritism.
"Mr. Zuma was not president in 1997, he was MEC in KZN as he was not president. He could not have had any influence in my rise in my judicial career,” Zondo pointed out.
Zondo also detailed cases he presided over, where Zuma and his son Duduzane were cited, but said his impartiality had never been in question.
"There was never a complaint that I should recuse myself I that matter or had found against Mr Duduzane's company because I was biased against Mr Zuma's family.
"I've sat in a number of matters which involved Mr Zuma as president and Mr Zuma has never complained over all these years that I had a close relationship with him, which disqualify me in sitting on matters which he was involved.
"In none of those matters did Mr Zuma bring an application for my recusal.”
The commission continues.
