The previous president of South Africa has always said he wanted his day in court. This stems from various allegations and suggestions–even from the courts–that he has been corrupt in various instances. Now that he is no longer president, and although he has appeared in court on a number of occasions, he is trying every trick in the book to avoid his day in court to face the many charges of corruption. I found an interesting article today, written by Erin Bates from the Daily Maverick newspaper, saying:
State Capture Inquiry Chairperson Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo expects former President Jacob Zuma to testify at the commission from Monday, 16 November to Friday, 20 November 2020. “We do not negotiate dates with witnesses,” Zondo said sternly on Monday, 21 September 2020.
Monday’s sitting began with Zondo updating the public on correspondence between Zuma’s legal team and the secretariat of the Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud.
“Previously, I determined that today up to Friday would be the week when the former President, Mr. Jacob Zuma, would appear before this commission,” said Zondo. “He was notified thereof and after some time his attorneys wrote to the commission and said that he would not be appearing before this commission during this week.”
Per Zondo, the former president’s attorneys gave at least three reasons why Zuma would not testify this week. They were: Zuma was preparing for his criminal trial, the 78-year-old received medical advice he should limit his movements due to his age and Covid-19, and Zuma was taking legal advice after a vital change to the inquiry’s regulations.
“I do not want to comment at this stage on his reasons for deciding that he would not appear before this commission this week,” Zondo said on Monday morning.
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Since the State Capture Inquiry began public hearings in August 2018, Zuma appeared for only five days of testimony, during which he repeatedly denied allegations against him and reported he did not recall critical facts.
On Friday, 19 July 2019 which was the last day of evidence from Zuma to date, he briefly withdrew cooperation altogether claiming he was enduring cross-examination by head of the legal team and evidence leader, Advocate Paul Pretorius SC.
“Chair, quite frankly, this is a joke,” Zuma’s representative Advocate Muzi Sikhakhane SC told Zondo.
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Zondo announced that on Friday, 9 October 2020 at 9am he will hear the legal team’s application for an order from him authorising the issuing of a summons against Zuma.
“He and his lawyers have been informed that, unless I am satisfied on that date that there are good grounds for them not to appear, if they do not appear that application will proceed without them,” said Zondo.
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Zondo recorded a remark in one of the letters from Zuma’s attorneys, which suggested dates should be negotiated. “No dates will be negotiated with them or with him,” said a stony-faced Zondo. “This commission has made it clear to the attorneys who represented him before that this commission does not negotiate dates with witnesses.”
There is another Judge, and His Word is so final that He will not even entertain legal submissions that challenge His authority or His decisions. Yes … His name is Yahweh (Jehovah, Lord, Almighty God). He has judged in the past through the universal flood and through many fulfilled Old Covenant prophesies. He has also judged on the Cross of Calvary. He judges in the present through His Word. Most people do not realize that when a person is convicted of sin through the Word, it’s the Word that actually judges them as the Holy Spirit works in the conscious of the hearer. He will judge finally in the future. This will be when He casts the rebellious and resistant into hell and ushers the blood-washed into Glory. Consider the following four extracts from the Scriptures:
Jas 5:9 … The Judge is standing at the door!
This means God is ready to enter His court room. A judge (even judge Zondo) needs to deliberate once he has heard all the evidence before he passes judgment. God as Judge is ready … whether the final judgment is today, next year or is a few thousand years’ time … all the deliberation has been completed. He is ready to pass judgment.
Heb 10:30 “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Christians are pleased that their God will judge them … based upon the substitutional penal sacrifice of Jesus. But for those who refuse and resist, it will be the most devastating time of their life as they fall into the hands of the living God they rejected.
Ge 18:25 Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?
A great comfort to Christians is that God is fair, just and faithful to all His promises and warnings. For His people, He will always do the right thing … even in judgment.
Jn 5:26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
In the glorious economy of the Triune God, He has delegated God the Son, Jesus, to be Judge! With love He will judge His people. His judgments are final … for all eternity.
Dear God, thank You that You have already judged my sin and rebellion at Calvary. Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You paid my sin price to set me free. Thank You, Holy Spirit, that You have wooed me into the Kingdom. Thank You, Lord, that … “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1-2). To You, Lord, be all the glory. Amen.