Zuma's agenda was to ‘capture’ state intelligence, Zondo commission hears
The commission of inquiry into state capture inquiry has heard how former president Jacob Zuma and his allies allegedly sought to capture the State Security Agency.
On Friday, the commission heard testimony from the agency’s former director-general Mzuvukile Maqetuka.
Maqetuka was appointed by Zuma in 2009 at the time the agency was being restructured.
Maqetuka said himself, and two other former heads of intelligence Mo Shaik and Gibson Njenje questioned the process followed in establishing the agency.
"They wanted to establish it via a proclamation which is like a presidential decree and it does not go through Parliament.”
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He said the process was not in line with the Constitution, as the agency was established in a democracy.
"We seemed to have been the only people at the time who were concerned about this and we were advised by the legal division which had experienced advocates.”
He told the commission it soon became apparent that Zuma restructured the agency to capture it and use it for corrupt purposes.
"I am convinced even more now that our leaving, and I'm talking about myself, Njenje and Shaik, our leaving the organisation is tantamount to constructive dismissal if you follow the events that followed after our departure.
"It may be that the former president believed we would all serve his broader agenda to perhaps capture the intelligence services when it was apparent that we were not as compliant as expected we were replaced so he can pursue his agenda unhindered."