South Africa's Jacob Zuma shrugs off graft allegations at inquiry

South Africa's former president Jacob Zuma on Monday dismissed multiple graft allegations against him, telling a judicial inquiry he was the victim of conspiracies and years of "character assassination". Mr Zuma testified at the inquiry in Johannesburg into the so-called "state capture" scandal after previous witnesses gave damning evidence against him. He is accused of overseeing mass looting of state assets during his nine-year tenure before being ousted by the ruling ANC party in 2018 and replaced by his deputy, Cyril Ramaphosa. In his much-anticipated appearance, Mr Zuma seemed relaxed as he spoke uninterrupted for more than two hours. "I have been vilified, alleged to be the king of corrupt people," he said. "I have been given every other name and I have never responded." Mr Zuma, who is set to face cross-examination during his appearance which may last all week, said he had been the victim of "character assassination over 20 years." "This commission, according to those who are implementing things, must be the grave of Zuma, he must be buried here," Mr Zuma said. "There has been a drive to remove me from the scene, [they] wish that I would disappear... there is this conspiracy against me." Mr Zuma, 77, was not legally required to attend the inquiry, but it invited him to appear after other witnesses testified against him. Led by judge Raymond Zondo, the probe is investigating a web of deals involving government officials, the wealthy Gupta family and state-owned companies. "I never did any... breaking the law with this family – never," he said. "This commission from my understanding was really created to have me coming here and perhaps to find things on me," he alleged. Dismissing the term "state capture", he asked "you are saying to the international community that South African judges are captured, all political parties in government are captured, the executive is captured by this family? "It's an exaggeration, it is meant to enhance this narrative against Zuma." According to Angelo Agrizzi, one of the inquiry's previous witnesses, Mr Zuma allegedly accepted a monthly $2,200 bribe (Dh8,000) delivered in luxury bags from a contracting firm that was trying to evade police investigation. The money was in theory for his charity foundation. Mr Agrizzi said his company also organised free parties, bulk alcohol supplies and birthday cakes to keep favour with Mr Zuma's associates. Former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene, who was sacked by Mr Zuma in 2015, testified that Mr Zuma pushed policies on nuclear power and aviation designed to benefit the Gupta family. The Gupta brothers are accused of fraudulently profiting from government contracts including energy and transport deals under Mr Zuma. The family owned a uranium mine, which would have seen profits soar from the nuclear deal, as well as a portfolio of mining, technology and media companies. They allegedly held such sway over Mr Zuma that they were able to select some of his cabinet ministers. Former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas told the inquiry that the Guptas offered him the finance minister's job and even threatened to kill him after he refused to accept a $40 million bribe. Sitting in central Johannesburg, the inquiry has heard from scores of witnesses over 130 days in session since last year. "The commission is not mandated to prove any case against anybody but is mandated to investigate and inquire into certain allegations," judge Zondo said, thanking Mr Zuma for appearing. Mr Zuma has separately been charged with 16 counts of graft linked to an arms deal from before he became president. He struck a characteristically relaxed tone ahead of his televised appearance, tweeting a video on Sunday of himself dancing and singing "Zuma must fall" before laughing heartily. The Indian-born Gupta brothers – Ajay, Atul and Rajesh – have left South Africa and are now based in Dubai . They also deny any wrong-doing. Eager to distance himself from the Zuma era, Mr Ramaphosa has declared his presidency as a "new dawn" for the country and described the inquiry as a "very painful process".

South Africa's Jacob Zuma shrugs off graft allegations at inquiry

The former president says he has been the victim of "character assassination over 20 years"