SOUTH AFRICA, 2 February, 2021 (TON): On Monday, Jacob Zuma, former president of SA denied appearing before the judicial panel that will probe him on corruption during his nine-year administration.  

South Africa's former president, Zuma continues to play cat and mouse with the courts.

His move defied the last Thursday’s order by the court to appear before and testify the state capture inquiry.

The commission "can expect no further cooperation from me in any of their processes going forward," Zuma said in a statement.

"The wrath visited upon me as an individual knows no bounds," said Zuma, adding that his children and associates had also been "targeted and harassed" as their bank accounts were closed.

In allegations against the commission for the bias, he says that the decision has left him defenseless.

"It is clear that the laws of this country are politicized even at the highest court in the land," Zuma said.

For being involved in Guptas, the Indian family who won lucrative contracts with state companies and were allegedly even able to choose cabinet ministers, Zuma was forced in 2018. He set up the commission shortly before his ouster and only testified before it once in July 2019, but staged a walkout days later.

From 2019 till now, the former president has not come before the court to testify again. The reasons were mainly concerns regarding health or preparations for another corruption case related to a 1990s arms deal which will resume this month.