Concourt rules Jacob Zuma must appear before Zondo Commission

The Commission applied for an order to compel Zuma to testify and comply with its subpoenas. 

Zuma walked out of the public hearing in November after Deputy Chief Justice, Raymond Zondo dismissed the former president’s recusal application. 

He refused to attend proceedings citing unfair treatment. 

This morning, Justice Chris Jafta said that Zuma must pay the Commission's legal bill. He also said the Commission was also to blame for the situation it found itself in.

"Mr Jacob Zuma is ordered to obey all summonses and directives lawfully issued by the judicial commission of inquiry into allegations of state capture, corruption and fraud in the public sector including organs of state." 

"It is declared that Mr Jacob Zuma does not have a right to remain silent in proceeding before the commission." 

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The court says the commission blundered in its handling of the Zuma matter and gave the former president special treatment.

Jafta says since sitting the commission has issued over 2 500 summonses for witnesses to appear but that this was not done for Zuma. 

"He was invited to the commission no reason was furnished for this favourable treatment, he informed the commission that he was withdrawing his participation." 

"He would simply come but will not testify. Thereafter the former president and his legal team left the hearing without the chairperson's permission. This precipitated the commission's approach to this court quite clearly. The commission is to blame for this situation it found itself in," says Jafta.