Louis Liebenberg – Zuma’s diamond moneyman on why he’s behind Msholozi till the end

Diamond dealer and Jacob Zuma’s private prosecution funder Louis Liebenberg says he will continue to support the former president financially until the matter is concluded.

Court case

Liebenberg was in attendance in the High Court in Johannesburg yesterday when the urgent application brought by President Cyril Ramaphosa against appearing in Zuma’s private prosecution was being heard.

‘Zuma tired of not being heard

He said Zuma was, in his own opinion, tired of not being heard properly and the private prosecution was the only way for Zuma to get justice. “I’ve seen his struggle and the citizens have seen the struggle of the president in the last 20 or 22 years. He has had tough days in and out of court,” Liebenberg said.

“There’s fear justice will not be done in the future not only towards President Zuma but to every citizen of this country. President Zuma is president for the people, a stark contrast to President Ramaphosa.”

“I will be there to support president Zuma with whatever funds he needs to see justice done.”

Liebenberg said apart from the fact that it was a spiritual affair to back Zuma financially; he feared the country would become a police state and ordinary citizens would not be able to experience real democracy.

“This is my personal opinion and that is why I back president Zuma, apart from the fact that it was a spiritual affair from my private prayer time,” he said.

“I got the instructions as I believe in my spirit that I had to go to Nkandla to help financially.”

Liebenberg accused Ramaphosa of being a president of self-enrichment who only listens to the west for instruction.

Accusations and controversies

On accusation he was a “blood diamond dealer”, Liebenberg said he understood how the corporate world works. “Through the years, there has been a campaign to discredit me and called me a Ponzi scheme operator yet I have got 144 000 hectares of mine which I am mining,” he said.

On his racist outburst where he used the k-word in conversation with his ex-girlfriend, Liebenberg said he used to be extreme rightwing and that he was taught politics by former president FW De Klerk.

“I was a product of my past but there is no excuse. I have to get down on my knees and say lord, help me. I have to repent, I have to get down on my knees and say ‘please God, change my tongue’.

“This [the Zuma case] was a good way for me to say sorry.”

ALSO READ: Ramaphosa’s legal team argues Zuma is trampling on his constitutional rights

– lungam@citizen.co.za