Jacob Zuma’s life at risk, his foundation claims

Former president Jacob Zuma said his life was at risk following reports alleging he had agreed to keep the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi’s millions in safekeeping at his Nkandla compound, according to his foundation.

It was responding to questions following media reports that Gaddafi allegedly gave an estimated $30 million (worth about R422 million) to South Africa’s then president for personal safekeeping in case the Libyan leader was captured and would need legal representation, as well as to look after Gaddafi’s family.

Zuma allegedly later sent the money to Eswatini’s King Mswati, who reportedly confirmed last week in a meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa that he had it. He had earlier allegedly denied this during Ramaphosa’s state visit to Eswatini at the start of March.

The Jacob Zuma Foundation said in a furious statement that the former president would take action against the reports.

It was reported on Tuesday that Zuma was set to sue the Sunday Times over the “Gaddafi’s missing millions” story.

The foundation claimed the Sunday Times had for some time reported falsehoods about Zuma.

The statement further accused the weekly publication of doing what “others from foreign countries do who want to put” Zuma’s life at risk by spreading these reports.

The former SA president risks going to jail and facing US sanctions if the allegations over Gaddafi’s millions prove to be true.

(Compiled by Makhosandile Zulu)

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