http://www.drum.co.za1 AUGUST (^2019) | 13
THEGUPTAS
ZUMASAIDTheGuptasnever
influencedhimandtherewas
nothingwrongwiththerela-
tionshipheandhisfamilyhad
withthem.Whenthecom-
missionquestionedhimabout
thetestimonyofThemba
Maseko,formerheadofthe
governmentcommunication
andinformationsystem(GCIS),
andVytjieMentor,a former
ANCMP,Zumadeniedthe
infamousfamilyplayedany
partinhisadministration.
MasekotestifiedthatZuma
hadorderedthen-ministerofpublicserviceand
administrationCollinsChabane,whodiedin2015,
togetridofMasekobecausehehadn’twantedto
injectstatefundsintotheGuptas’mediainterests.
Zumadeniedthis.Mentortestifiedsheand
ZumahadbeenattheGuptas’Saxonwoldhome
whenAjayGuptaofferedhera ministerialpostin
returnforfinancialcooperationwithhisfamily.
‘Therearenostraight
answers drawn with
ease from memory’
GALLO
IMAGES/SOWETAN/THULANI
MBELE,
GALLO
IMAGES/NETWERK24/FELIX
DLANGAMANDLA,
GALLO
IMAGES/
NETWERK24/TEBOGO
LETSIE,
GALLO
IMAGES/SOWETAN/ALON
SKUY,
GALLO
IMAGES/SOWETAN/MASI
LOSI
BODY LANGUAGE
The former president showed no respect for
the commission and didn’t create the impres-
sion of a reliable, cooperative witness, says
Denise Bjorkman, a behaviourist and body
language expert.
He doesn’t show “the spontaneity of an
honestperson.There’snodetailthatcomes
withhonestyeither.Therearenostraight
answersdrawnwitheasefrommemory”
Zuma’s body position and movements are a
reflection of his authority, Bjorkman adds.
“He knows he has a following. The position
of his jaw and the lowered eyebrows are
pugilistic – as used by boxers. It’s an act of
hostility and aggression and usually causes
otherstobackoff.He knows he’s still in the
boxingringandhewants to prevent further
t i k ti ”
WHAT NEXT?
Deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo has heard
evidence from more than 80 witnesses over 130
days and is due to wind up the enquiry in March
2020.
But “such processes can take longer,” says
Professor Kealeboga Maphunye, chair of Unisa’s
political science department.
State capture critics are hoping for a
“comprehensive report that clearly articulates
evidence of public maladministration, fraud,
mismanagement and corruption and points all
fingers at Zuma’s door.
“This could assure the international
community that South Africa is serious about
fighting corruption at the highest levels and that
it’s committed to the rule of law and
constitutionalism.”
The fact that Zuma testified is important,
says Professor Theo Neethling, head of the
University of the Free State’s department of
political studies and governance.
EXTRA SOURCES: SASTATECAPTURE.ORG.ZA,
NEWS24,
NETWERK24,
BIZNEWS.COM,
DAILYMAVERICK.CO.ZA,
ENCA,
TIMESLIVE.CO.ZA
THEMBA
MASEKO
answersdrawnwitheeaseasefromfrommememoryy”. trictrickyquestions.
VYTJIE
MENTOR
ShealsotestifiedAjayhadknownaboutZuma’s
plannedcabinetreshuffle.
Zumasaidhecouldn’trecallsucha meeting,
and,infact,in 2016 whenMentorfirstspokeout,
heclaimednottoknowwhoMentorwas.
TESTIMONYDEBUNKEDMentorsaidit was
impossibleforZumanottorememberher,asshe
wasanex-chairpersonoftheANCcaucusand
theysatacrossfromeachotherinmeetings.
STATECAPTUREISA MYTH
ZUMASAIDThere’snothinglikestatecapture.
TESTIMONY DEBUNKED “There have been
four reports on state capture confirming the
existence of institutionalisation of corruption
during his term,” says Dr Ntsikelelo Breakfast,
senior lecturer at Stellenbosch University’s
school of security and African studies.
According to Professor Mark Swilling of the
University of Stellenbosch’s school of public
leadership, to succeed at state capture and
hollow out accountability “requires the deep
cooperation and complicity of the highest
office in the land”.
of the University of the Free State’s depart-
ment of political studies and governance
points out.
“He also appointed Ramatlhodi minister.
But in the end Ramatlhodi refused to bend to
Zuma and the Guptas’ agenda and he was
replaced.”
ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS
ZUMA SAID there were multiple attempts to
end his life as well as death threats. The former
president said he’d been poisoned and alleged
suicidebombersweredispatchedfromover-
seastomurderhiminDurban.
TESTIMONY DEBUNKED André Duvenhage,
a professor in political science at North-West
University, doubts Zuma’s claims have any-
thing to do with a greater political plot.
“As someone who comes from an environ-
ment of violent conflict, it’s to be expected
there’d be attempts on his life. But I doubt that
was the case during his presidency. It could be
that Zuma is referring to things in the past
that aren’t relevant to the current context.”
NEWS
singke
(singke)
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