South Africa: damning report details corruption under Zuma

#Other countries : The latest report on former South African President Jacob Zuma, released on Tuesday evening, sets out the most detailed roadmap yet on how to bring to justice his unique state-party gender mix (ANC ) and private affairs.

The third part of the conclusions of a long investigation into corruption under his presidency (2009-2018), over more than a thousand pages, has been submitted to President Cyril Ramaphosa. He recounts how a private service company called Bosasa became embroiled in the highest levels of government and the ruling African National Congress (ANC).

A final part is still awaited, drafted after nearly four years of investigation by an ad hoc commission.

Few revelations, insofar as the scandals which marked the Zuma presidency were revealed at the time by the vigorous South African press. Whistleblowers, including former Bosasa operations director Angelo Agrizzi, have also written books detailing how Bosasa bribed Zuma and other senior officials.

But the report establishes a legal case and urges prosecutors to take up the investigation.

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«Corruption was Bosasa’s modus operandi», assures the report. The society «widely corrupted politicians, officials, President Jacob Zuma and others».

The ANC set up its electoral war room in Bosasa’s offices, with Bosasa’s money, during the 2011, 2014 and 2016 election cycles. «Everything for the company came down to corruption»overwhelms the report.

Zuma, 79, must already be tried for a bribery case dating from the 1990s which notably concerns the French group Thales. But this latest report is mounting the pressure to open new cases against Zuma and a range of officials.

Prosecuting Zuma is not without peril. His refusal to testify before the commission of inquiry last year led the country’s highest court to sentence him to prison, which sparked incidents that escalated into riots that left more than 350 people dead in July.

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The charismatic Jacob Zuma was released from prison for health reasons two months later.

Political risks also abound. Ramaphosa took over the leadership of the ANC, and therefore of the country, promising to eradicate corruption.

The indictment of Zuma and his loyalists – many of whom still hold senior positions – would risk splitting the party ahead of its December conference, which is expected to see Ramaphosa confirmed in office or released.

In local elections in November, most registered voters did not bother to vote and support for the ANC fell below 50% for the first time in its history.

Party officials are now haunted by the possibility of a crushing defeat in the 2024 general election.