Cape Town – Former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, whose investigation into state capture led to the establishment of the Zondo Commission, says its terms of reference are too broad and that it would take "a lifetime" for one commission to probe all government corruption.
But Madonsela has faith that Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, who heads up the commission, will determine the "purpose" thereof and align it with her probe into the Guptas and President Jacob Zuma.
Zuma released the terms of reference for the Zondo Commission on Thursday. Most of the topics of investigation concern Zuma and his family friends, the Guptas, but two sections speak to all corruption in the awarding of tenders by state-owned enterprises and government departments.
The devil is in the detail
"If you take this interpretation literally, if you are asking this judge to investigate all corruption in state affairs, that would take a lifetime for one commission," said Madonsela.
"I wish the drafting was better. I think the drafting (of the terms) is confusing. On the one hand it is too broad, and on the other hand too narrow. The devil is in the detail," said the former Public Protector, who now teaches law at Stellenbosch University.