Speaking at a Cape Town Press Club lunch on Monday, he called for a commission of inquiry into the country's multi-billion-rand arms deal, saying the "painful truth" had to be uncovered.

"The question I want to pose is: How can the citizens and taxpayers of this country forgive, unless we know who we are forgiving?

"Frankly, the NPA issue will be a permanent running sore on the body politic unless we go back to the beginning. Truth starts with a proper commission of inquiry into the arms deal.

"All other accusations of corruption, political manipulation, taping conversations, holding tapes — all these are consequences of the initial problem of the arms deal," he said.

Makgoba also said he was concerned about Zuma's remarks, made earlier this month, on the authority of Constitutional Court judges.

Zuma was reported as saying: "I don't think we should have people who are almost like God in a democracy. Why? Are they not human beings?"

Makgoba said the judiciary's independence needed to be guarded.

"I really want to join the choir or litany of those that have expressed extreme concern about Zuma's reported comments on Constitutional Court judges.

"We cannot be careless about the role of the judiciary. We need to guard its independence and its importance," he said.

Sapa

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