South Africa's former president, Jacob Zuma, walked out of a hearing by the Commission of Inquiry investigating Zuma's allegations of corruption during his time in office.
The walkout was staged solely because the overseeing judge, Justice Raymond Zondo, refused to recuse himself from the hearing, per Zuma's request.
The former president and his lawyer filed an application asking the commission replace the judge over concerns of his impartiality.
Zondo, being the presiding officer, rejected the application because it " “failed to meet the test for a reasonable apprehension of bias."
The ruling was met with anger by Zuma and his lawyer who went on to accuse Zondo of unethical behavior by taking part in a motion "that involves" himself.
As a result, Zum, despite being summoned, stormed out of the hearing claiming he was being treated as an "accused rather as a witness, while his lawyer formally requested the proceeding be suspended.
34 affidavits have been filed to the commission outlining what witnesses describe was direct and indirect corrupt activities by the former president stretching from 2009 to 2018.
One of the cases is on the allocation of large government contracts awarded to the infamous super-wealthy Gupta family.
Zuma, who maintains his innocence, was first called to the stand to in 2019 and also stormed out in that hearing, this time citing health issues.
By: Niza Nondo
Comments