Former Minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi’s bid to have former President Jacob Zuma take a lie detector test over his apartheid spy claims has failed, according to an IOL report.
During his testimony at the state capture inquiry in July last year, Zuma claimed apartheid spies had infiltrated the African National Congress (ANC).
He specifically mentioned Ramatlhodi and former minister Siphiwe Nyanda as among the alleged spies. He further mentioned former minister Derek Hanekom in a tweet.
‘No provision to compel Zuma’
Ramatlhodi later challenged Zuma to a lie detector test to prove his claims. According to IOL, he also approached the inquiry, led by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, to compel Zuma to take the test.
However, Ramatlhodi told the publication on Thursday that the inquiry had told him that it did not have a “provision” to compel a witness to do so.
“They said they don’t do lie detectors [but] that I should make a sworn affidavit [to] challenge him to prove what he has said, which I have done,” he said.
He added that he had already submitted his affidavit. However, the frequent postponements of Zuma’s next appearance at the inquiry means he has not yet formally responded to it.
Zuma in hot water over claims
Zuma stirred controversy over his spy claims, which he linked to what he said was a long-standing conspiracy against him by unnamed foreign spy agencies.
Hanekom hauled him to court in August last year and won a R500,000 defamation claim. In November, Zuma lost his application for leave to appeal that ruling.
Nyanda also confirmed in August that his lawyers had “lodged papers” to sue Zuma over his claims, but it’s unclear if the lawsuit went ahead.
The ex-President is expected to shed more light on his claims at his next appearance at the inquiry. The dates have not yet been confirmed.
Besides his inquiry appearance, Zuma is expected to appear in court in February for his corruption trial linked to the 1990s arms deal and his controversial relationship with his former financial advisor Schabir Shaik.
He is also fighting a potential bid by VBS Bank liquidators to repossess his Nkandla home after reportedly defaulting on his repayments.
In 2016, the Constitutional Court ruled that he had to pay back a portion of the costs for security upgrades at Nkandla. He subsequently took a loan from VBS.