Zuma rejects new state capture report findings

JOHANNESBURG — The Jacob Zuma Foundation has responded to the most recent edition of the Zondo Commission’s report, saying the former president dismissed the findings and said they weren’t even worth the paper they were written on.

In a statement released by his foundation early Wednesday morning, Zuma insists he was denied the opportunity to tell his side of the story on a neutral platform.

“It is now well known that H.E President Zuma was denied the opportunity of a neutral platform to put his side of the story in the so-called Zondo Commission,” the Foundation said in a statement.

The Jacob Zuma Foundation argued that the relationship between Judge Raymond Zondo who is the presiding officer in the case and the accused Jacob Zuma was fragile rendering the investigation flawed.

“The application for the review and setting aside of the refusal by Judge Zondo to recuse himself despite the relationship between him and President Zuma which he has recently and inadvertently confirmed during the Chief Justice interviews, is a matter which is still pending before the courts.

“Fundamentally, for these reasons as stated above, H.E President Zuma rejects any purported “findings” by Judge Zondo which were made without affording him the most basic human rights to be heard.

“H.E President Zuma strongly believes that Justice must be seen to be done.

“In these circumstances such “findings” are obviously not even worth the paper they are written on,” it said.

The former president said he would consult with his legal team to decide his next move.

“H.E President Zuma will in due course consult with his legal team on the appropriate course of action to be taken following these developments,” read the statement issued by the Jacob Zuma Foundation.