JOHANNESBURG, July 15 (Reuters) - Former South African
president Jacob Zuma told a corruption inquiry on Monday that
there was a conspiracy against him and that his enemies had
subjected him to a "character assassination" because they wanted
him out of power.
"This commission, from my understanding, was really created
to have me coming here, and perhaps to find things on me," Zuma
said in his opening remarks at the inquiry, looking relaxed and
wearing a dark suit.
"There has been a drive to remove me from the scene, a wish
that I should disappear."
Zuma, ousted by the governing African National Congress
(ANC) in February 2018, is accused of allowing cronies to
plunder state resources and influence senior government
appointments during his nine years in power.
He has consistently denied wrongdoing, saying the
allegations against him are politically motivated. His lawyer
said in a letter to the inquiry last month that Zuma believed it
was prejudiced against him.
It is a rare example of an African leader being brought to
book soon after losing power.