South Africa watchdog to oppose Zuma bid to set aside influence peddling report

Record ID: 896157

  • Title: South Africa watchdog to oppose Zuma bid to set aside influence peddling report
  • Date: 19th June 2017
  • Summary: PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 19, 2017) (REUTERS) PUBLIC PROTECTOR BUSISIWE MKHWEBANE WALKING INTO THE PRESS ROOM BUSISIWE MKHWEBANE TALKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) PUBLIC PROTECTOR, BUSISIWE MKHWEBANE, SAYING: "Yes we will be opposing the judicial review application. But I think you'd know that we are still finalising the process of collating all the evidence which is needed or which the President (Zuma) required - we avail in terms of rule 53. And we are still finalising the signature by various councils on the confidentiality clause. So we are at that stage." JOURNALIST LOOKING ON (SOUNDBITE) (English) PUBLIC PROTECTOR, BUSISIWE MKHWEBANE, SAYING: "I am opposing the review by the President, including the Minister Zwane and Minister van Rooyen's applications because remember, they've also applied for judicial review to set aside the whole report." PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PICTURES (SOUNDBITE) (English) PUBLIC PROTECTOR, BUSISIWE MKHWEBANE, RESPONDING TO ACCUSATIONS THAT SHE IS CAPTURED BY ZUMA, SAYING: "And the captured by Zuma? I am captured by the constitution, I'm not captured by any person - hence I'm here to serve South Africans and not serve any political party or any person." VARIOUS OF JOURNALISTS AT THE BRIEFING
  • Embargoed: 3rd July 2017 14:43
  • Keywords: Zuma Gupta state of capture corruption
  • Location: PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA
  • City: PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Judicial Process/Court Cases/Court Decisions
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016LY2KW7
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: AUDIO AS INCOMING
    South Africa's anti-corruption watchdog will oppose a bid by President Jacob Zuma to have a report on claims of influence-peddling by him and his government set aside, Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane said on Monday (June 19).
    Thuli Madonsela, Mkhwebane's predecessor as Protector, released the report in November. It called for a judicial inquiry into allegations that Zuma, some cabinet members and some state companies acted improperly, but stopped short of asserting that crimes had been committed.
    In December Zuma, who has denied wrongdoing and faced down calls for his resignation over a series of scandals that have plagued his administration, asked the High Court to set the report aside.
    In February, Mkhwebane said she was seeking legal advice on how to proceed on the issue.
    On Monday she told a news conference her office would oppose Zuma's application to have the report set aside.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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