Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

New report reveals Zuma's 'critical' role in state corruption scams

New report reveals Zuma's 'critical' role in state corruption scams

THE latest damning report into former south African president Jacob Zuma, released last Friday (29), hands him a "critical" role in the plunder and mismanagement of the country’s state-owned enterprises during his nine years in office.

A special inquiry filed a fourth volume of the huge report with president Cyril Ramaphosa, detailing Zuma's key role in major corruption through a merging of state, party and private business.


The report has been put together after four years of investigations led by current chief justice Raymond Zondo, revealing how the wealthy Indian-born Gupta brothers became enmeshed at the highest levels of government and the ruling African National Congress (ANC).

"It is clear that from quite early in his first term, (former) president Zuma would do anything that the Guptas wanted him to do for them," said the report.

The latest report focuses on the "capture" of Eskom, the public power utility in Africa's most industrialised economy. In total, some 14.7 billion rand ($930 million) of Eskom's contracts were improperly awarded to firms linked to the Indian migrant business family.

Zuma's interfered in Eskom executive board affairs, said the report.

The collusion and corruption by the Eskom executives, "with external third parties... was blatant". "Zuma was a critical player in that plan," it added.

"Central to the Guptas' scheme of state capture was... Zuma who the Guptas must have identified at a very early stage as somebody whose character was such that they could use him against the people of South Africa, his own country and his own government to advance their own business interests".

Zuma, 80, became post-apartheid South Africa's fourth president in May 2009, succeeding Kgalema Motlanthe.

But his presidency gained a reputation for graft, with cronies influencing government appointments, contracts and state businesses.

"It is also quite clear that during... Zuma's term of office certain decisions which were supposed to be made within the government were made outside of government and not with his party, the ANC, but with the Guptas," said the report.

Zondo has recommended that law enforcement agencies investigate further for possible "criminal prosecution of the implicated parties... for their part in facilitating the fraud, corruption and financial misconduct against Eskom and the state".

The report also criticises fraud in social housing and asbestos removal contracts worth $10 million when it was run by ANC grandee Ace Magashule, an ally of Zuma, who has been charged over the affair and suspended by the party.

Zuma is on medical parole after being granted a 15-month jail term for contempt following his refusal to testify before this commission probing financial sleaze under his presidency.

His jailing sparked riots last July that left more than 350 people dead.

A fifth and final volume of the report is expected by June 15.

(AFP)

More For You

Salman Rushdie

Rushdie was stabbed about 15 times: in the head, neck, torso and left hand, blinding his right eye and damaging his liver and intestines. (Photo: Getty Images)

Rushdie attack trial begins as jurors shown graphic details

JURORS heard how a knife attack on novelist Salman Rushdie unfolded in a matter of seconds at a 2022 New York talk and how close he came to death, in the prosecutor's opening statement on Monday (10) at the trial of the man accused of trying to murder the author.

A poet introducing the talk, on the subject of keeping writers safe from harm, was barely into his second sentence when defendant Hadi Matar bounded onto the Chautauqua Institution open-air stage and made about 10 running steps towards a seated Rushdie, Chautauqua District Attorney Jason Schmidt told the jury.

Keep ReadingShow less
Will Smith’s shout-out to Diljit Dosanjh sparks viral collaboration buzz

Will Smith’s comment on Diljit Dosanjh’s latest song sparks excitement among fans

Instagram/diljitdosanjh

Will Smith’s shout-out to Diljit Dosanjh sparks viral collaboration buzz

When Hollywood superstar Will Smith drops a comment on your Instagram post, you know something big is brewing. That’s exactly what happened when Diljit Dosanjh, the Punjabi music sensation, shared a snippet of his latest track, Tension, on social media. Smith, known for his iconic roles and global influence, left a simple yet impactful comment: “Fire!.” Diljit, clearly thrilled, responded with, “@willsmith BIG BROTHER 🦾.”

This brief exchange sent fans into a frenzy, with many speculating if a collaboration between the two stars is on the horizon. One fan wrote, “This is BIG!,” while another chimed in, “Hopefully, there are plans for you two to work together!”

Will Smith drops a "Fire!" comment on Diljit Dosanjh’s post, fuelling collaboration rumoursInstagram/diljitdosanjh

Keep ReadingShow less
Police halt Ed Sheeran’s street performance

Sheeran, who began his career as a busker in the UK, said later on his Instagram account that he did have permission to perform.

Police halt Ed Sheeran’s street performance in Bengaluru

A STREET performance by Ed Sheeran in Bengaluru was stopped abruptly by police last Sunday (9), outraging fans and prompting the British singer to issue a clarification.

Sheeran, dressed in a white t-shirt and shorts was seen singing and playing his guitar on a pavement in the centre of Bengaluru ahead of his concert last Sunday night.

Keep ReadingShow less
 Yvette-Cooper-Getty

Home secretary Yvette Cooper said employers had for too long been able to "exploit illegal migrants and too many people have been able to arrive and work illegally with no enforcement action ever taken". (Photo: Getty Images)

Immigration arrests up 73 per cent in January

UK immigration enforcement teams made more than 600 arrests in January, a 73 per cent increase on the same period a year ago, as part of the Labour government's plan to tackle undocumented migration and people smuggling gangs, officials said on Monday (10).

The 609 arrests, compared to 352 in January 2024, were made during visits to 800 premises including nail bars, restaurants, car washes and convenience stores, a government statement said.

Keep ReadingShow less
NIFFA 2025 to open with ‘Superboys of Malegaon,’ biggest line-up yet

Superboys of Malegaon’ set to open NIFFA 2025, Australia’s biggest Indian film festival

Instagram/shashank.arora

NIFFA 2025 to open with ‘Superboys of Malegaon,’ biggest line-up yet

The National Indian Film Festival of Australia (NIFFA) is gearing up for its most ambitious edition yet, bringing over 40 Indian films to Australian audiences. In collaboration with Dendy, the festival will showcase three world premieres and 36 Australian premieres, featuring a diverse mix of films across multiple Indian languages, including some never seen before in Australian theatres.

Reema Kagti’s much-anticipated Superboys of Malegaon will open the festival on February 13, 2025, with a grand red-carpet gala in Sydney. The film, which previously screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and BFI London Film Festival, will travel across major cities, including Canberra, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, and Melbourne, before a nationwide release by Forum Films.

Keep ReadingShow less