South African Graft Probe Hearings Begin
- Testimony could damage ruling party’s election prospects
- Former anti-graft ombudsman Madonsela ordered judicial probe
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A South African judicial commission investigating the alleged plunder of state funds during former President Jacob Zuma’s rule begins public hearings on Monday that could have potentially dire consequences for the ruling party.
The probe led by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo will likely implicate a number of the African National Congress’s past and serving leaders in what’s widely become known as state capture -- reputational damage it can ill afford as it gears up to contest next year’s elections. Ex-Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, who now oversees state companies, has said more than 100 billion rand ($6.7 billion) may have been stolen.