South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Tuesday 17 November

This week has started off with a bang, and Tuesday 17 November promises to bear more of the same. Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo delivered a scathing statement in response to former president Jacob Zuma’s application for the recusal of Zondo from the Commission.

Further afield the Bushiris have left President Cyril Ramaphosa and Bheki Cele fuming, after the couple skipped the country over the weekend. Now the Hawks have threatened to seize their Centurion mansion if they don’t return to face trial in South Africa.

TODAY’S LATEST NEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA, TUESDAY 17 NOVEMBER

Zondo to Zuma: ‘We are not friends’

The words “We are not friends”, in time will become an iconic phrase, as Zondo distanced himself from Zuma’s claim that the two are close.

Jacob Zuma is due to answer questions about the rampant government corruption that took place during his nine years as president. He wants the DCJ removed from his role as the chief of the commission, claiming that Zondo is ‘biased’ and ‘too conflicted’ to grill the former president.

The bid to force Zondo to recuse himself is the latest strategy Zuma has used to avoid the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture. The former president previously stated he was in poor health and travelling abroad to seek treatment.

Zondo promised to sleep on a decision, so expect an answer on Tuesday.