Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is trying to secure Zuma’s co-operation in the state capture investigations by putting a possible plea-bargain deal on the negotiating table, the Sunday Times reported.
As part of the secret talks to ensure Zuma’s resignation, the ANC president wanted Zuma to help the police and prosecuting authorities nail the perpetrators and primary beneficiaries of state capture - the Gupta family, the newspaper reported.
While the law did not accommodate any extra-judicial deals, Ramaphosa was trying to "create the framework for Zuma to co-operate with the authorities to secure successful prosecutions".
"It is understood that Zuma wants the state to cover his legal costs in the event of prosecution, but that Ramaphosa is reluctant to agree to this without co-operation from the president in pinning down those who were involved in capturing the state.
"The Sunday Times has also learnt that Ramaphosa intends to appoint Housing Minister Lindiwe Sisulu as his deputy when he becomes president," the newspaper reported.
City Press reported Ramaphosa "is having to put out fires" in his party as fellow leaders, party structures, and the public grow impatient with the pace of talks about Zuma’s exit from the Union Buildings.
Ramaphosa’s cancellation of Wednesday’s special national executive committee (NEC) meeting, which could have red-carded Zuma, had not gone down well among senior leaders, City Press had learnt.
While some in the ANC top six are said to be furious with a “combative” and “disrespectful” Zuma, Ramaphosa had stuck with the negotiating line as the best way to avoid an “ugly and divisive” transition, City Press reported.
According to those close to the process, Zuma’s conditions for stepping down included state-guaranteed safety for him and his family, his security being maintained at its current level, and for the state to pay his legal fees for current and future matters linked to his tenure in government, it reported.
- African News Agency (ANA)
