Zondo: Zuma left without asking for permission
We again begin at the State Capture Commission of Inquiry where former president Jacob Zuma has just upped and left.
"He has left today without asking me to be excused, this is a serious matter," says Deputy Chief Justice Raymond ZondoDeputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo
Zuma's walkout happened after Zondo dismissed his application for him to recuse himself as chairperson of the commission.
Zuma had accused Zondo of bias and said they had a personal history - a claim Zondo has denied.
"I am of the view that balance has been correctly struck in regard to most if not all the comments about which the applicant complains. I conclude that the applicant has failed to meet the test for the reasonable apprehension of biased."
Following the ruling, Zuma's counsel Advocate Muzi Sikhakhane told the commission that they would be excusing themselves from the rest of proceedings.
The commission's Advocate Paul Pretorious then told Zondo that the proceedings must continue and if Zuma and his counsel are excusing themselves, he would in fact the applicant be acting in defiance of the summons and unlawfully.
"It's up to you chair to decide whether or not the proceedings will continue or whether they will be adjourned or stayed pending any application for review."
"The position is simply that the summons stands. It's not open to the applicant to simply excuse himself. The proper application of the law is that you make a decision about the continence of proceedings."
Justice Zondo then called for a tea break but returned to say that Zuma had left during this adjournment.
"He was going to be asked to take the witness stand and be questioned about various matters relating to matters that we are investigating," says Zondo.
"It is a pity that he has elected to leave without asking for permission. There is no point for the commission to sit for the rest of the day. There's no point in coming tomorrow because he's not coming back."
Zuma's counsel, Advocate Muzi Sikhakhane says his instructions now are to review Zondo's decision.
"In regards so far of the issue of you becoming a judge in your own matter which on its own is a ground that we have mentioned. I want to say that we have also been instructed to lodge a complaint about you to the Judicial Service Commission seeing that you have made yourself a witness and a judge."
