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Former SA president Jacob Zuma called to graft inquiry

Friday June 21 2019
J.Zuma

Former South African President Jacob Zuma sits in the dock of the High Court of Pietermaritzburg on July 27, 2018 for his hearing over 16 corruption charges. PHOTO | PHILL MAGAKOE | POOL | AFP

By AFP

Former South African president Jacob Zuma was on Thursday called to give evidence next month at a judicial inquiry into alleged corruption during his nine years in office.

The commission headed by Judge Ray Zondo is investigating a web of deals involving government officials, the wealthy Gupta family and state-owned companies during Mr Zuma's presidency.

He has been scheduled to appear at the inquiry between July 15 to 19 "to enable him to give his side of the story", the commission said, after he was implicated by other witnesses in alleged corruption.

NO CONFIRMATION

The commission added in a statement that Mr Zuma had not confirmed whether he would appear on the scheduled dates, despite six weeks of discussions with his lawyers.

It said it had refused his request to be given questions in advance.

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Mr Zuma, who was forced to resign in 2018 under a cloud of corruption scandals, allegedly accepted monthly bribes from a security firm, according to one witness at the Zondo commission.

The 77-year-old has also been charged with 16 counts of graft linked to an arms deal from before he became president.

He is seeking to have the case thrown out.

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