Govt won't comment on Zuma

2003-08-18 12:07

Johannesburg - The government has resolved not to comment any further on the investigation involving deputy president Jacob Zuma, Justice Minister Penuell Maduna said on Monday.

"With the support of President Thabo Mbeki, we have decided not to comment on this matter," Maduna said at the opening of Nthabiseng Thuthuzela care centre at Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto.

"No one must comment. We are not in the business of running investigations through the media," Maduna said.

The decision follows reports at the weekend that popular ANC member Cyril Ramaphosa was to mediate between Zuma and the Scorpions, the elite unit investigating allegations that Zuma tried to solicit R500 000 from a company that benefited from South Africa's multibillion rand arms deal.

Ramaphosa withdrew from negotiations after meeting with Scorpions boss Bulelani Ngcuka on Sunday.

When asked who approached Ramaphosa to mediate between the Scorpions and Zuma, Maduna said: "I do not know anything about mediators. I am not interested in it and I do not want to know."

- SAPA