Zondo said if he allowed Zuma to defy the commission, summons and the Constitutional Court order for him to appear, he would be setting a dangerous precedent.

Zuma decided not to appear at the commission, saying he was waiting for a High Court application in which he challenged Zondo’s refusal to recuse himself.

Zondo said we should all be subjected to the same rules under the Constitution, and if action was not taken against him, there would be chaos because others may follow his example.

“The commission will approach the Constitutional Court and ask it to impose a term of imprisonment of Mr Zuma if it finds that he is guilty of contempt of court.”

Zuma was meant to appear at the commission on Monday morning, in line with a summons and notice that were issued after he walked out during his previous appearance without being excused last year.

His notice not to appear came after the Constitutional Court ruled that he was compelled to appear, testify and remain at the inquiry until he was excused.

When the former president walked out of the commission last year, he set a series of events in motion.

They include Zondo’s decision to head to the Constitutional Court to compel him to appear on dates determined by the commission as per its summons.

“The commission views Mr Zuma’s conduct in a very serious light, particularly because it’s repeated conducted. The commission has not treated Mr Zuma unfairly at all and has no valid reason not to appear before the commission at all,” Zondo said.

EWN