'
Zuma was a key player in the plan
': the 4th installment of a damning investigative report into the machinations that culminated in the looting of state coffers in South Africa during Jacob Zuma's presidency (2009-2018) was handed over to the presidency on Friday.
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Since January, the anti-corruption commission of judge Raymond Zondo, who has become the pet peeve of the former head of state, has been recounting the conclusions of four years of investigation and hundreds of hours of hearings on state corruption, the maneuvers to siphon off public companies and influence games within the government in connection with a sulphurous trio of businessmen of Indian origin, the Gupta brothers.
A final report submitted before June 15
The final report must be submitted before June 15.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has made corruption his hobbyhorse but has also been called to testify before the commission, will then have to decide whether to take legal action.
The new component focuses in particular on embezzlement within the public electricity company, Eskom.
According to the report, "
evidence shows that the Gupta have a plan in place to take over Eskom
."
And ex-president Jacob Zuma "
interfered in the management of board affairs
" in their favour, the report claims.
“
President Zuma's interference in council affairs marked the beginning of the implementation of the Gupta's plan to take over Eskom and President Zuma was a key player in that plan
,” Judge Zondo said.
"
The capture of the state and its agents have caused immense harm to Eskom for many years
," the company said in a statement, adding that "
the necessary measures
will be taken if people involved are still employed.
The report also gives its conclusions on a fraud within the framework of contracts of 10 million dollars for the creation of social housing and asbestos removal operations in the Free State province (center), then led by one of the most senior officials of the party. in power, the ANC, Ace Magashule.
Read alsoSouth Africa: new appeal by ex-President Zuma in his corruption trial
The report denounces “
a debacle
” claiming that “
either no houses have been built, or there have been so few that they are not worth mentioning
”.
Close to Jacob Zuma, Ace Mgashule, was charged at the end of 2020 and suspended from the ANC.
Jacob Zuma, 80, is on parole after being sentenced to prison for refusing to testify before the commission.
His incarceration sparked violence in July that left more than 350 dead.
