JOHANNESBURG, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Former South African President Jacob Zuma on Monday testified before the state capture inquiry, saying that the accusation of corruptions bothered him and his family a lot.
Making his first appearance before the commission where he has been implicated in corruption, Zuma said he believed the inquiry was "created to have me coming here and perhaps to find things on me."
Zuma told Raymond Zondo, deputy chief justice and state capture commission chair, that he was the only former president being treated in this manner.
"I've been the subject in this country for more than a decade, alleged to be the king of corrupt people. I'm the most corrupt," he said the inquiry was established in a bid to assassinate "his character." Zuma said his family, particularly children, have "suffered" as a result of corruption allegations against him.
The inquiry stems from allegations of improper relations between Zuma and the infamous Gupta family.
The Gupta family which has close ties to Zuma has been accused of influencing cabinet appointments in the Zuma administration.
Former Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas testified at the inquiry last year about how he was approached and offered a Finance Minister position and a R600 million (43 million U.S. dollars) bribe by Atul Gupta. It is alleged that the Guptas use their relationship with Zuma to loot billions of rands from state-owned entities.
At Monday's hearing, Zuma was asked to respond to allegations that he instructed a senior government official to help and channel over 600 million rands of advertising to Gupta-owned newspaper. He told the inquiry that he cannot "recall" making such instruction.
Zuma will continue with his testimony on Tuesday.
Over thousands of his supporters marched near where the inquiry was taking place Monday, expressing their concerns about the way Zuma was treated.
