Zuma was right to snub Zondo, says Sikhakhane

'We saw through their strategy and countered it'

- By Mawande AmaShabalala

Former president Jacob Zuma was politically correct to shun the Zondo commission, a decision that resulted in his imprisonment after the Constitutional Court sent him there.

This is according to the outspoken Adv Muzi Sikhakhane SC, who represented Zuma during his application seeking to have the commission's chairperson, retired Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, recuse himself.

After Zondo refused to grant the recusal, Zuma decided not to appear before the man he insisted was conflicted because of their strong personal ties.

Sikhakhane, who was speaking to Sunday World Engage in a wide-ranging interview about the politics of the judiciary and whose book is selling like hot cakes, said the Zondo commission was a sham that was designed to nail certain people, Zuma included.

Sikhakhane, who is still offended by those who believe that he misled Zuma as his legal representative, insists that it was Zuma who decided to shun Zondo, but at a political level, he concurred with the decision.