South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will testify at an inquiry into his predecessor Jacob Zuma’s corruption on Wednesday, where he is expected to reveal what he saw as Zuma’s deputy and justify why he did not act.
Ramaphosa served as deputy president from 2014 to 2018, when Zuma was deposed by his supporters in the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
Since taking office as president, he has promised to crack down on corruption.
Last month, the presidency issued a brief statement stating that Ramaphosa would testify before the “state capture” inquiry in his capacity as president and former vice president of the country and the African National Congress (ANC).
Around 10 a.m. local time, Ramaphosa is expected to testify.
During Zuma’s final weeks in office, an investigation was launched.
During Zuma’s nine years in office, he allegedly allowed businessmen close to him – brothers Atul, Ajay, and Rajesh Gupta – to influence policy and win lucrative government contracts.
Zuma and the Gupta family have denied any wrongdoing.
Zuma appeared before the inquiry for a brief period in 2019, but he ignored a summons and court order to testify earlier this year. As a result, the attorneys for the investigation are requesting that he be imprisoned.
Ramaphosa’s testimony is one of the few times a sitting South African president has testified at a judicial inquiry into misconduct.
Educator, writer and legal researcher at Alafarika for Studies and Consultancy.