South Africa’s ex-President Jacob Zuma told a judge-led inquiry that allegations of corruption against him were a “conspiracy” aimed at removing him from the political scene.<\/p>\n
He was appearing for the first time at the inquiry, which is investigating allegations that he oversaw a web of corruption during his term in office.<\/p>\n
His supporters cheered when he entered building.<\/p>\n
Mr Zuma was forced to resign as president in February 2018.<\/p>\n
He was replaced by his then deputy Cyril Ramaphosa, who promised to tackle corruption in South Africa. Mr Ramaphosa described Mr Zuma’s nine years in office as “wasted”.<\/p>\n
The allegations against Mr Zuma focus on his relationship with the controversial Gupta family, which was accused of influencing cabinet appointments and winning lucrative state tenders through corruption.<\/p>\n
He has also been accused of taking bribes from logistics firm Bosasa, run by the Watson family.<\/p>\n
They all deny allegations of wrongdoing.<\/p>\n
Looking relaxed and at times animated, Mr Zuma alleged that foreign intelligence agencies, which he did not name, were behind a decades-long plot to remove him from office.<\/p>\n
“I have been vilified, alleged to be the king of corrupt people,” Mr Zuma told the inquiry led by Judge Ray Zondo.<\/p>\n
“I have been given every other name and I have never responded to those issues,” he added.<\/p>\n
He objected to allegations that he had allowed the state to be “captured” by the Gupta family, and had auctioned the country.<\/p>\n
“Did I auction Table mountain? Did I auction Johannesburg?” he said.<\/p>\n
On the eve of the hearing Mr Zuma was in a good mood. He tweeted a video of himself laughing at the chant “Zuma must fall!”<\/p>\n
Many of the revelations from the inquiry concern the relationship between two families – the Zumas, centred on the former president, and the Guptas, three Indian-born brothers who moved to South Africa after the fall of apartheid.<\/p>\n
The two families became so closely linked that a joint term was coined for them – the “Zuptas”.<\/p>\n
The Guptas owned a portfolio of companies that enjoyed lucrative contracts with South African government departments and state-owned conglomerates. They also employed several Zuma family members – including the president’s son, Duduzane – in senior positions.<\/p>\n
According to testimony heard at the inquiry, the Guptas went to great lengths to influence their most important client, the South African state.<\/p>\n
Public officials responsible for various state bodies say they were directly instructed by the Guptas to take decisions that would advance the brothers’ business interests.<\/p>\n
It is alleged that compliance was rewarded with money and promotion, while disobedience was punished with dismissal.<\/p>\n
Source: bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"