South Africa’s scandal-hit President Jacob Zuma has dismissed as “unfair” an anti-corruption watchdog’s report which suggested that he may have breached his oath of office.
The report, released last month, focused on allegations that Mr Zuma let a wealthy family of businesspeople, the Guptas, wield undue influence in his government.
In parliament today, Mr Zuma gave the clearest indication yet that he intended to challenge the report in court, saying:
This report has been dealt with in a very funny way. Very funny in my view. It affected me and many. No fairness, at all.”
The report suggested that Mr Zuma should set up a commission of inquiry to thoroughly investigate corruption allegations against him, businessmen, government ministers and officials.
However, the chief judge should appoint the judge who will head the inquiry, the report said.
Mr Zuma rejected the proposal, saying he would not be “told the process through which you must go” to establish a commission of inquiry.
Meanwhile, the Save South Africa campaign group – led by anti-apartheid stalwart and mining magnet Sipho Pityana – have launched The People’s Motion of No Confidence in President Zuma in an attempt to force him to resign.
Launching the campaign in the main city Johannesburg, Mr Pityana said:
We are saying no to corruption. We are saying no to a president we see as a champion of corruption and he sees nothing wrong with state capture.
We must save South Africa from you Mr president. If we do not do it now and we sit and nothing there will be no South Africa to save.”
Mr Zuma and the Guptas have denied being involved in any corrupt practices.