In testimony before the Zondo Commission, Dr Sydney Mufamadi said that the State Security Agency (SSA) had made extensive monthly payments to former president Jacob Zuma, and had planned projects to swing public narratives in his favour.
Dr Mufamadi chaired an enquiry into the SSA. The payments to Zuma were allegedly made between 2015 and 2017. They were made under the code name ‘Project Commitment’, and amounted to between R2.5 million and R4.5 million a month. The funds were apparently ‘provided’ by the then state security minister, David Mahlobo.
Another initiative titled ‘Project Justice’ reportedly sought to suborn judges to ensure that cases against Zuma were resolved in his favour. Mufamadi cautioned, however, that no evidence was submitted that judges had been so influenced.
He also referred to a project to infiltrate the media with a view to influencing coverage about Zuma, South Africa and the SSA. He said that his panel had been given evidence that this project was accorded some R24 million in 2015/16. Large payments were made to a media agency, identified as the African News Agency, launched by Dr Iqbal Survé, executive chairman of Independent Media.
In addition, Mufamadi said that funds had been committed to hiring toxicologists to test Zuma’s foodstuffs and bedding to guard against poisoning. One of their achievements was to find expired soft drinks in Zuma’s pantry.