Former President Zuma Appears Before State Capture Inquiry

The former president of South Africa Jacob Zuma is this week appearing before a judicial inquiry into state capture.

The inquiry, which has been running since August 2018, is looking into a number of allegations regarding corruption and state capture, many of which relate to the time during which Zuma served as President (2009-2018).

The former President’s appearance comes after a number of witnesses have named him during their testimonies, including former ministers who served in his cabinet. Allegations include that Zuma used his position as head of state to help the Gupta family and its businesses win various public contracts worth millions.

Zuma has denied the allegations, claiming that there is a conspiracy against him. “There has been a drive to remove me from the scene, a wish that I should disappear,” he told the inquiry on the first day of his appearance. He also reiterated that he considers himself a politician and not a businessman, saying he knew nothing about business.