Jacob Zuma has applied for Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo to step out of the committee investigating corruption during his presidency.
Justice Raymond Zondo currently heads inquiry known as the Zondo commission, established to investigate the “state capture” scandal during Mr. Zuma’s tenure as president.
Mr. Zuma who testified before the commission last year and was due to return to give further evidence, has said the inquiry is biased against him.
The former South African President claimed that the investigation was politically motivated and that the evidence against him was part of a witch hunt.
The scandal revolves around allegations of corrupt relations between the former President the wealthy Gupta family.
It is alleged that the family received unmerited award of government contracts worth millions of dollars.
They were also able to influence political decisions, including the naming of ministers, an allegation which the
two parties have both denied.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party has called on the family to leave South Africa, saying the country could not be held to ransom by a “corrupt cartel” with “mafia” tendencies.
However, the family has been strongly defended by some of Mr. Zuma’s close allies.
Jacob Zuma’s legal representative on Monday argued that the state capture inquiry’s chairperson, deputy chief justice (DCJ) Raymond Zondo, must self-reflect on comments he has made about Zuma when witnesses testified against the former president.
Muzi Sikhakhane said, he does not accuse Zondo of being partial or lacking integrity but “he may have created an environment that reinforces and feed into the “narrative” that Zuma “is the man who destroyed our country”.
According to Sikhakhane, there have been times when he thought the DCJ has crossed the line of expressing outrage as a presiding officer.
“The real test about commitment to justice is how you treat those at the bottom of your pecking order, how you treat those you despise” He said.
In the meantime, It is uncertain whether Zuma’s application will be granted.
