JZ back in court … as expected

As expected President Jacob Zuma hit back yesterday, challenging the North Gauteng High Court ruling that his review application on the state capture report be thrown out, with costs.

Last week the high court ruled that the president must set up a judicial inquiry into influence-peddling within 30 days and that he should pay costs for an earlier legal challenge.

Despite being told his previous application for a review was “reckless” and “ill-advised”, he now wants to challenge the ruling.

Last week, Judge Dunstan Mlambo not only said Zuma’s review application of former public protector Thuli Madonsela’s recommendations on alleged state capture was ill-advised and reckless, but also noted it was a delaying tactic.

In November 2016, the former public protector released a report, titled State of Capture, concerning allegations of an improper relationship between Zuma‚ other state officials and the Gupta family.

The report recommended Zuma appoint a commission of inquiry to complete the investigation.

Madonsela recommended that the commission be established by Zuma but that the presiding judge should be chosen by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng.

The president had taken issue with the remedial action, and went to the courts to review it and set it aside.

So it looks as though 2018 will follow a similar path to previous years when it comes to Zuma and the courts.

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