Zuma’s son gets bail in graft case, summoned over car crash death

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Duduzane Zuma, son of tainted former South African president Jacob Zuma, got relief in a corruption case on Monday after a Johannesburg court granted him bail. However his troubles aren’t over yet as he has been summoned by another court to appear later this week on two charges of culpable homicide for a 2014 fatal car crash, according to reports in South African media.

Duduzane, 34, who had so far avoided the courts by staying away from South Africa, returned to the country from Dubai last week to attend the funeral of his brother Vusi Nhlakanipho Zuma, who died on July 1 after battling lupus, according to South Africa’s News24 news website. Vusi’s funeral service was held on July 7.

News24 also reported that Duduzane was briefly detained after arriving at Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International Airport on the evening of July 5. He was released after his identification was confirmed.

On Monday, Duduzane appeared in Johannesburg's Specialized Commercial Crime Court with shackles on his legs, becoming the most high profile individual to be booked after investigations of corruption during his father’s government. The court released him on a 100,000-rand (7,440 US dollars) bail, and set the next hearing for January 24, 2019.

The Gupta connection

Private security personnel man the gate to the compound of the controversial Gupta business family in Johannesburg while cars belonging to South African investigating agencies are stationed outside, in Johannesburg, South Africa, on February 14, 2018. /VCG Photo

Duduzane worked for the scandal-hit Gupta business family, which is being probed for corrupt dealings with the Zuma-led government. Zuma's successor, President Cyril Ramaphosa, has vowed to root out corruption since taking charge in February.

The Indian-born Gupta brothers – Ajay, Atul and Rajesh – have been accused of bribing and influencing ministerial appointments to get favorable government deals including being granted lucrative mining contracts. They deny all wrongdoing.

Accentuating Zuma family’s extraordinary turn of fortunes, Duduzane on Monday was charged in connection with a bribe allegedly offered to former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas by the Guptas in 2015.

Jonas had earlier confessed in a sworn statement that he was offered the position of finance minister and a 600-million-rand (50 million US dollars) bribe by the Guptas in return for following the family’s directives. Jonas claimed he refused the offer.

South Africa's former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas has confessed that he was offered the position of finance minister and a 600-million-rand bribe by the Guptas in return for following the family’s directives. /VCG Photo

Jacob Zuma sacked Jonas five months after he rejected the alleged bribe offer.

Duduzane has been implicated in the case by the government as a party to the crime because of his presence during the alleged meeting in the Guptas’ Saxonwold residence, News24 reported.

"He is charged with corruption for offering undue gratification to a public officer," National Prosecution Authority spokesman Phindi Mjonondwane told reporters. "The state did not oppose bail because he has been cooperating."

Duduzane’s lawyer Rudi Krause said his client denied all wrongdoing, stressing that “the charges are based [only] on allegations by Mcebisi Jonas."

'Confident of innocence'

Duduzane Zuma (second from right), son of former South African president Jacob Zuma, leaves the court, where he faced corruption charges before being released on bail on July 9, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa, on July 9, 2018. /VCG Photo

The younger Zuma also maintained his innocence in an affidavit, prepared in Dubai on July 5 according to a News24 report and submitted to the court on Monday.

"I deny that I am guilty of any criminal acts in relation to these averments and I am returning to South Africa fully aware of the fact that I am facing, not only the charges of culpable homicide but potentially other charges some of which may well be serious in nature," read his affidavit.

"I am confident, not only of my innocence, but also of the fact that it would be in the interest of justice to be released on bail pending the outcome of any charges as might be brought,” it further said.

Claiming that he was in Dubai on business and lived there with his family since February 2018, Duduzane explained his absence from South Africa: "It is necessary for me to travel internationally for my business and I place on record that I shall always return to South Africa when necessary as I have done now to face any criminal proceedings against me."

The court while granting the bail however instructed him to surrender his two passports and report to the police twice a week. It also directed Duduzane to seek the court's permission before traveling.

Charges of culpable homicide

Lindsay Maasdorp, spokesperson of pan-Africanist and revolutionary socialist political party Black First Land First (BFL), reacts towards journalists ahead of the trial of Duduzane Zuma in Johannesburg, South Africa, on July 9, 2018. /VCG Photo

Meanwhile, Duduzane is also facing two charges of culpable homicide in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court, which had earlier this month issued summons for him to appear on July 12.

The charges are in connection with a February 2014 road accident in which Duduzane lost control of his Porsche car and crashed into a taxi, killing one woman, Phumzile Dube, instantly while three others were injured.

One of the injured, a woman named Jeanette Mashaba, died a couple of weeks later. However, during the inquest, it was found that her death was not a result of the accident and that she died in hospital of natural causes, News24 reported.

The case drew the public's and media attention but in July 2014, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) declined to prosecute Duduzane citing insufficient evidence. A year later in August 2015, the NPA yet again declined to prosecute Duduzane despite the Magistrate’s Court finding prima facie evidence that negligent action on his behalf caused Dube’s death.

After much public pressure, including an ultimatum by lobby group AfriForum, NPA this April allowed the prosecution of the former president’s son for culpable homicide.

(With input from agencies)

(Cover Photo: A combination of two photos show Duduzane Zuma, the son of former South African president Jacob Zuma, at the Specialized Commercial Crime court premises in Johannesburg, South Africa, on July 9, 2018. /VCG Photo)

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