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South Africa: Jacob Zuma report points to possible corruption South Africa: Jacob Zuma report points to possible corruption
(about 2 hours later)
An investigation into South Africa's President Jacob Zuma has found evidence of possible corruption at the top level of his government.An investigation into South Africa's President Jacob Zuma has found evidence of possible corruption at the top level of his government.
In the report, former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela recommends Mr Zuma establish a judicial commission of inquiry within 30 days.In the report, former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela recommends Mr Zuma establish a judicial commission of inquiry within 30 days.
Mr Zuma is accused of an improper relationship with wealthy businessmen.Mr Zuma is accused of an improper relationship with wealthy businessmen.
He had tried to block the release of the report, but dropped his court bid on Wednesday.He had tried to block the release of the report, but dropped his court bid on Wednesday.
The president and ANC leader has been dogged by corruption allegations for more than a decade, but has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The president and leader of the governing African National Congress (ANC) has been dogged by corruption allegations for more than a decade, but has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
Undue influence? Police fired water cannon to disperse protesters who marched on Mr Zuma's main office in Pretoria to demand his resignation.
The 355-page report calls for further investigation into potential abuses, including the purchase of a mine by Tegeta, co-owned by the president's son, Duduzane Zuma. The 355-page report by former anti-corruption chief Thuli Madonsela is entitled "State of Capture" and is illustrated on its front page with a hand strung with puppet wires.
"If [Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi] Zwane travelled in his official capacity to support Tegeta's bid to buy the mine his conduct would give Tegeta an unfair advantage over other interested buyers," the report notes. Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas is quoted in the report as saying that businessman Ajay Gupta offered him 600m rand ($44.6m; £36.2m) last year, "to be deposited in an account of his choice", if he accepted the post of finance minister.
"Further, it is potentially unlawful for the minister to use his official position of authority to unfairly and unduly influence a contract for a friend... This scenario would be further complicated if his actions were sanctioned by the president." Mr Gupta also asked him if he had "a bag which he could use to receive and carry 600,000 rand in cash immediately", Mr Jonas alleged, adding that Mr Zuma's son, Duduzane, was present at the meeting.
Ms Madonsela investigated allegations that Mr Zuma let the wealthy Gupta family - who co-own Tegeta - wield undue influence in his government. He was expected to remove key Treasury officials from their posts and advance the Gupta family's "business ambitions", Mr Jonas is quoted as saying.
Her investigation was triggered by allegations from Deputy Minister of Finance Mcebisi Jonas that the Gupta family had made "a mockery of our hard-earned democracy" by offering him the finance minister's post last year. The businessman has not yet commented on the report, but has previously denied any wrongdoing.
The report reveals Mr Jonas told the public protector he was offered 600m rand (£36.2m/$44.6m) in an account of his choice by Mr A Gupta if he agreed to become finance minister. The Gupta family is close to President Zuma, and the two have been nicknamed by the opposition as the "Zuptas".
The report continues: "He asked if Mr Jonas had a bag which he could use to receive and carry R600,000 in cash immediately, which he declined." After Mr Jonas rejected the alleged offer, little-known ANC MP Des van Rooyen was appointed finance minister.
There has not been any immediate reaction from Mr Zuma, his family or the Guptas. All had previously denied that claim. Ms Madonsela said she had obtained evidence, including telephone records, placing Mr Van Rooyen at the Gupta's family home on seven occasions, including the day before the appointment.
However, an earlier statement from the president's office said the decision to abandon a court bid to block the report's release was made "in the interest of justice and speedy resolution of the matter". Mr Zuma was forced to sack him four days later after South Africa's currency went into a tailspin.
"The president will give consideration to the contents of the report in order to ascertain whether it should be a subject of a court challenge." The report also contains allegations that:
Opposition parties, who had challenged Mr Zuma's move, are now demanding that he pays their legal costs. Opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Musi Maimane said state coffers were being "plundered" by "crooks", but the "good guys" were winning in the battle to safeguard the democracy which emerged in South Africa at the end of minority rule in 1994.
Will Zuma live to fight another day?: Milton Nkosi, BBC News, Pretoria There has not been any immediate reaction from Mr Zuma, who did not co-operate with the investigation, saying he had not been given enough time.
This report is bad for President Jacob Zuma but certainly not as damning as opposition parties and many others had hoped when they went to court. Will Zuma live to fight another day? Milton Nkosi, BBC News, Pretoria
This report is bad for President Zuma but certainly not as damning as opposition parties and many others had hoped when they went to court.
The findings and subsequent remedial action seem to kick the can down the road. It says that the president should appoint a judicial commission of inquiry. This means that Mr Zuma would still occupy the highest office in the land for many months to come, as he slowly approaches the end of his second and last term.The findings and subsequent remedial action seem to kick the can down the road. It says that the president should appoint a judicial commission of inquiry. This means that Mr Zuma would still occupy the highest office in the land for many months to come, as he slowly approaches the end of his second and last term.
There is no doubt that should the inquiry recommend that Mr Zuma be censured, there would be grounds for impeachment.There is no doubt that should the inquiry recommend that Mr Zuma be censured, there would be grounds for impeachment.
But that would present a political problem in the house of assembly because Mr Zuma's own party, the ANC, holds an overwhelming majority.But that would present a political problem in the house of assembly because Mr Zuma's own party, the ANC, holds an overwhelming majority.
The loyal MPs have overcome many attempts by the opposition to have a vote of no confidence in the president.The loyal MPs have overcome many attempts by the opposition to have a vote of no confidence in the president.
Mr Zuma lives to fight another day but he must surely be nearing the last of his nine lives.Mr Zuma lives to fight another day but he must surely be nearing the last of his nine lives.
Mr Zuma has already survived one investigation into whether or not he "unduly benefited" from government money used to upgrade his private rural home. An earlier statement from the president's office said the decision to abandon a court bid to block the report's release was made "in the interest of justice and speedy resolution of the matter".
It led to widespread calls for Mr Zuma to resign, but he survived an impeachment vote in parliament after ANC MPs rallied behind him. "The president will give consideration to the contents of the report in order to ascertain whether it should be a subject of a court challenge," it said.
But the calls were growing once more on Wednesday, as thousands gathered all over the country to demand he step down. Mr Zuma survived an impeachment vote earlier this year after South Africa's highest court upheld another finding of Ms Madonsela - that he had "unduly benefited" from government money used to upgrade his private home in the rural area of Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal province.
Police fired water cannon to disperse protesters who marched on Mr Zuma's main office in Pretoria ahead of the report's release. Ms Madonsela stepped down as Public Protector at the end of her seven-year term last month.
Opposition groups also rallied in South Africa's other major cities.
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Musi Maimane said state coffers were being "plundered" by "crooks", but the "good guys" were winning in the battle to safeguard the democracy which emerged in South Africa at the end of minority rule in 1994.
The Guptas in South Africa:The Guptas in South Africa:
Who are the Guptas?Who are the Guptas?