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Vytjie Mentor to oppose Zuma's bid to review state capture report

Cape Town - Former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor has submitted court papers to oppose President Jacob Zuma’s application to review the State of Capture report.

“I’ll oppose him, putting the facts before the courts as to why this review should not be granted,” Mentor told Fin24 on Thursday on the sidelines of a function hosted by the Cape Town Press Club.  

Mentor’s submission follows after the incumbent Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane said at a media conference she has lodged a notice of intention to oppose the president’s application. 

READ: The R600m bribe and other state capture scandals that rocked SA

Zuma asked the High Court in Pretoria to review and set aside the remedial action recommendations in the report. 

According to court papers, Zuma filed an affidavit in which he questions former public protector Thuli Madonsela’s recommendation in the report that he establish a commission of inquiry which should be headed by a judge selected by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng.

Mentor was one of those who were interviewed by Madonsela in her investigation into state capture.

In March 2016 she alleged the Gupta family, which has close ties to President Jacob Zuma, offered her the job of minister of public enterprises in 2010 in exchange for cancelling SAA routes to India.

READ: Pityana loses scathing attack on Zuma, private sector

She was a member of the audience on Thursday when Save SA convenor and AngloGold Ashanti chair Sipho Pityana addressed members of the Cape Town Press Club on the state of South Africa.

Mentor echoed Pityana’s sentiments that “ordinary citizens” should stand up and hold a government under the “number one problem” (Zuma) to account.

Mentor said 2017 is going to be a “daunting year”. 

“I want South Africans to see it as the beginning of a difficult period that will make or break the country. We therefore have to rise in our numbers – even more so than when we fought apartheid. 

“These people (Zuma and his supporters) are digging in and they’re dangerous. It’s not going to be easy,” Mentor continued. 

She added that South Africans dare not rely on the ANC “to fix things”. 

“It’s the ANC which has allowed this president to lead us to the quagmire we’re in today. You cannot look to the ANC to save South Africa.” 

She said the “real game changer” will be ordinary South Africans. 

“This is your year. If we don’t (stand up) we’ll go back to the Biblical Egypt. We’ll all be doomed.” 

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