Former President Jacob Zuma has left the state capture inquiry on Thursday afternoon after the Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo dismiss his application for recusal on the grounds that he failed to meet the test for a reasonable apprehension of bias.
In handing down his ruling on the matter, Zondo said that there were no grounds to support Zuma’s claims that the two were friends.
“In light of the fact that the applicant does not dispute most of the facts set out in paragraph 7 of my statement, I’m of the opinion that of the undisputed facts, there was not the kind of relationship between myself and the applicant such as would disqualify me from chairing this commission nor is it a proper ground for me to recuse myself.”
Earlier, Zuma’s lawyer, Muzi Sikhakhane, said that they would take Zondo’s decision on review and that they would lodge a complaint with the Judicial Service Commission regarding Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo’s handling of the recusal application.
Zondo said that Zuma had been summoned to be at the inquiry from Monday to Friday unless he had been excused by the deputy Chief Justice.
