The Hefer Commission of Inquiry’s investigation would be incomplete without hearing evidence from Deputy President Jacob Zuma, the Democratic Alliance said on Monday.
”Most of the allegations which are to be probed by the commission emanate from the so called ‘Zuma camp’; the deputy president is inextricably linked to the investigation and he should be subpoenaed to testify,” DA justice spokesperson Sheila Camerer said on Monday.
”We are running the risk of losing sight of a very important question: was Deputy President Zuma guilty of any inappropriate or criminal activities?”
The Scorpions investigation unit had already stated there was a prima facie case against Zuma, but it declined to prosecute, she said.
Zuma had repeatedly bemoaned the fact that he was denied his day in court, and maybe the time had come for him to volunteer his side of the story to the Hefer commission. He should at the very least give his side if subpoenaed.
Camerer said the commission should also probe the relationship between Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Penuell Maduna and liquidator Enver Motala in the course of its investigation into the possible abuse of power on the part of the minister.
Any investigation into abuse of power would be incomplete without a probe into whether Maduna abused his position to send lucrative liquidations contracts the ”way of his friend Mr Motala”.
Camerer repeated the DA’s call for Zuma, National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka and Maduna to step aside until the allegations had been properly investigated and retired judge Joos Hefer had delivered his findings.
The commission, headed by Hefer, is investigating various claims including that Ngcuka was an apartheid government spy. It is expected to start its hearings on Thursday. — Sapa