COVID-19, the virus that has killed over 34 000 South Africa and infected over 1.2-million has put brakes on the Zondo Commission into state capture.

The presiding officer, Deputy Judge President Judge Zondo was forced to stop the hearings after the lunch break because he had come into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Zondo, following the government’s COVID-19 protocols, stopped the hearing and has gone into isolation. It is expected that the commission staff that has been in contact with him would also go into isolation.

“We are supposed to continue but we are unable to because we have received news that somebody that works closely with me has tested positive with Covid 19. It seems that in those circumstances because I am required to isolate myself that we can’t proceed in this form,” Zondo said.

The Deputy Judge President adjourned the hearing and said the commission would look into ways through which the testimony of Brian Molefe, the former CEO of power utility Eskom, can continue. This would include continuing with the hearing virtually.

Molefe testimony is on his tenure at Eskom, his relationship with the Gupta family and their associates.

Source – Thomson Reuters Foundation