Zuma won't replace arms inquiry judge

President Jacob Zuma will not replace Judge Francis Legodi after he resigned from the Seriti Commission of Inquiry into the arms deal, the presidency said on Tuesday.

   

"President Zuma has reconstituted the commission and it is now composed of Justice Willie Seriti as its chairperson and Justice Thekiso Musi as a member," the presidency said in a statement.

   

"The president remains confident that the commission will successfully complete its work."

   

On Monday, Seriti said he received a draft of an urgent court application against the commission on Sunday night. One of the concerns raised was whether the commission could continue with only two commissioners, following Legodi's resignation last week.

   

The applicant, the defence department, believed the commission could not proceed with just two commissioners. Seriti said that was a decision Zuma needed to make.

   

The commission is investigating alleged corruption in the 1999 multi-billion rand arms deal. Public hearings were scheduled to get underway in Pretoria on Monday, but were postponed for two weeks.

   

-Sapa