Jacob Zuma's testimony at the state capture commission halted for now

Pierre de Vos says once you are at the inquiry, you can't refuse to answer questions unless it is about attorney-client privilege.

Former president Jacob Zuma will not continue with his testimony at the state capture commission for now.

Judge Raymond Zondo said this decision was taken to give Zuma and the commission’s legal team an opportunity to find a way to address his concerns.

This came after Zuma expressed his displeasure with the inquiry’s expectation that he must remember details that, as head of state, he didn’t deal with directly.

Joanne Joseph speaks to constitutional law expert Professor Pierre de Vos on what the law says in this regard.

The rules say the chairperson can call anybody to testify. Once you are here, you are not permitted to refuse to answer questions unless it is about privilege between attorney and client.

Professor Pierre de Vos, Constitutional law expert 

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There seems to be a legal obligation on the former president to testify and to answer questions. The rules and regulations also say the legal representative of the commission can actually examine the witness and can probe to see if the testimony given is truthful or not.

Professor Pierre de Vos, Constitutional law expert 

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I don't think former president Zuma and his lawyers are happy with the process because if he is going to be interviewed and they are going to test for truthfulness, he doesn't seem to be comfortable with that aspect of it.

Professor Pierre De Vos, Constitutional law expert 

Listen to the full interview below...

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