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THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH NEW INFO AT THE BOTTOM…

I guess he couldn’t handle the heat.

When Jacob Zuma and his legal team cried foul on Wednesday, saying the former president and current martyr was being unfairly treated, you knew his participation in the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture was more than likely over.

He got to spout his conspiracy theories, he got to play the victim, he got to throw others under the bus, and now he wants out.

Here’s how this morning played out, via News24:

10:07 – Evidence leader Paul Pretorius says they are ready to proceed.

The correspondence between the commission and Zuma’s lawyers is confidential, Pretorius says, but he is happy to convey what was discussed.

The commission’s legal team will continue to exercise its powers delegated to them and contemplated by the relevant legislation, Pretorius explains.

10:08 – Pretorius is reading out the commission’s rules and the legal team’s powers.

“The commission’s legal team wishes to place on record that it will not make any concessions in that regard… (in carrying out its powers)”.

10:16 – BREAKING: Former president Jacob Zuma’s legal team says he will withdraw from the commission.

10:17 – Adv Muzi Sikhakhane for Zuma: We are here to tell you that Zuma will take “no further part” in the proceedings.

From there on out, the victim card was brandished out by his legal team, with Sikhakhane saying that witnesses must not be “persecuted”.

He added that Zuma cannot continue “while this commission thinks we must just walk him (Zuma) into Kgosi Mampuru prison and be done”.

Wouldn’t that be nice?

Imagine being the lawyer who has to defend the man who sold the country’s soul, and doing so with a straight face?

UPDATE: Zuma has changed his mind, somewhat, according to TimesLIVE:

Former president Jacob Zuma has changed his mind, now agreeing that he will continue to give evidence to the state capture inquiry – but it will be done on his terms.

Zuma will not appear before the commission any time soon, however.

After an adjournment on Friday, during which  deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo consulted with both Zuma’s legal team and that of the commission’s, he announced a way forward in which Zuma would be made to submit statements to the commission based on clearly-indicated allegations that have been levelled against him…

“I have had a discussion with counsel for the former president and counsel for the commission in regard to the issue that they were supposed to deal with yesterday. It was a very fruitful discussion again characterised by respect, courtesy and a high level of professionalism. I think a commitment to try and look at any suggestion put on the table to try and find a way forward,” Zondo said.

“The discussions have resulted in an agreement that the decision that the former president would no longer participate in the proceedings is withdrawn and that the former president I have been told has indicated that he wishes to continue to cooperate with this commission. His legal team also wish to continue to work with this commission.”

Zondo described the process going forward, saying that the commission’s legal team will indicate to Zuma’s lawyers what its areas of interest are in each witness’s statement or affidavit on which the commission would like the former president to testify.

Thereafter, Zuma will provide, through his legal team, statements that indicate his responses to these aspects.

This process is expected to take more than two weeks.

On Monday, the Zondo Commission will continue, when the Estina Dairy Farm scandal will be under the spotlight.

[source:news24]