South Africa’s Chief Justice Raymond Zondo on Wednesday handed over the final part of the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector to President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The commission was appointed to investigate the corruption that took place in the public sector during the tenure of former president Jacob Zuma from 2008 to 2018.
Speaking after receiving the report, Ramaphosa said the handover of the final report “represents the fulfilment of the remedial action set out in the state of capture report.”
“The submission of the final report today brings to an end the work of the Commission and marks the fulfilment of the weighty mandate given to Chief Justice Zondo in January 2018,” Ramaphosa said.
He added: “Through the various reports released by the Commission, we have come to understand what happened, who was involved, and what effect state capture has had on our state, our economy and our society.”
He is now expected to table the full report before South Africa’s National Assembly by October 21, according to a court order issued earlier this year.
“In line with the directive of the High Court, within four months from this date, I will formally present to Parliament the full report of the Commission together with an indication of my intentions on the implementation of the Commission’s recommendations,” Ramaphosa said.
The report, which was submitted to Ramaphosa in six parts, presented evidence of the abuse of power and of how public institutions were repurposed during the Zuma years to enable corrupt activities to take place.
Several government and ruling African National Congress party officials have been fingered in the corruption allegedly orchestrated by the Indian-born Gupta brothers who used their personal relationship with Zuma to influence government business, including the appointment of ministers and procurement decisions.
JN/APA