Zuma: The term state capture is being used ‘loosely’
Former president Jacob Zuma has accused his detractors of “dressing up” and embellishing state capture to add more weight to the investigations.
Religious leaders in KwaZulu-Natal held a prayer session in Nkandla to welcome the former president back home on Thursday.
The gathering, organised by the National Interfaith Council of SA (Nicsa), was meant to give Zuma spiritual relief and to thank God for keeping him safe during his tenure as head of state.
Speaking in isiZulu, Zuma reiterated his belief that he is not guilty of any corruption.
He is expected to be back in the High Court in Durban next week to face 16 charges of corruption, fraud, money laundering and racketeering.
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The National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Shaun Abrahams re-instated the almost decade old charges in March.
“They are now saying that Zuma is corrupt because I extended my home in Nkandla. They are saying you cannot build a house that big on a presidential salary, which means I must have stolen the money. I didn’t steal it. They’ve had investigation after investigation but nobody could say where exactly I stole this money from.”
He says the term ‘state capture’ is being used loosely.
“They explain state capture by saying a family have been talking to a few prominent people, either it be minister or people in Parliament. The term has been used as a way to gossip and has been heavily embellish.”