Another damning state capture report against Zuma

Former president Jacob Zuma’s Stalingrad strategy over the years has, by and large, done well to delay him from being prosecuted.

However, that strategy will now be tested to the full after yesterday’s fourth instalment of the state capture report found he was central to the Guptas’ scheme of state capture, with Chief Justice Raymond Zondo labelling Zuma’s character as “such that the Guptas could use him against the people of South Africa”.

Zondo also says charges should be brought against businessman Edwin Sodi and government officials for their roles in the R255 million Free State asbestos scandal, while insisting the ANC should be embarrassed for allowing Eskom and the Free State scandal to happen “under their watch”.

The report said: “The evidence proves a scheme by the Guptas to capture Eskom, install the Guptas’ selected officials in strategic positions within Eskom and then divert Eskom’s assets to the Guptas’ financial advantage.”

It added: “Central to the Guptas’ scheme of state capture was President Zuma, who the Guptas must have identified at a very early stage as somebody whose character was such that they could use him against the people of SA to advance their own business interests.”

Up to this stage, no report had been so critical of Zuma.

The report said: “It is clear that from quite early in his first term, President Zuma would do anything that the Guptas wanted him to do for them,” including help oust competent ministers.

The first three instalments of the state capture report have come and gone, with very little action.

Yes, President Cyril Ramaphosa will only act on this later after receiving all the reports, but this is the most damning yet. We need to speed up the prosecution process.

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