As South Africa’s former president appears before a corruption inquiry, there are fears he could stir up trouble for his successor

Jacob Zuma, South Africa’s former president, will make an unprecedented appearance before a judicial inquiry for a five-day grilling this week over corruption allegations relating to his years in power.

Zuma has been accused of presiding over an immense system of corruption and patronage that drained billions from the exchequer and damaged the reputation of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) beyond repair.

But there are fears that the veteran politician will use the hearings as a platform to attack his successor, Cyril Ramaphosa, who ousted Zuma last year, aggravating the bitter struggle between factions of the divided party. Although Ramaphosa led the ANC to a convincing electoral victory in May, the 66-year-old tycoon and former labour activist has so far been unable to assert his authority over the party, and observers say he is looking increasingly weak.

“Ramaphosa is entering a very dark hour and his defenders are few and far between,” wrote commentator Adriaan Basson shortly after Ramaphosa made the traditional state of the nation address.

A quarter of a century after the end of the apartheid system, South Africa remains one of the most unequal societies in the world, with soaring unemployment, a flagging economy and high levels of violent crime.

Last week ministers announced that troops would be deployed in poor neighbourhoods close to the western city of Cape Town following a spate of gang murders. Earlier this year the country endured rolling electricity cuts.

The inquiry, led by Raymond Zondo, a senior judge, is mandated to probe allegations of “state capture” in South Africa during Zuma’s nine-year rule. It was set up following an ombudsman’s report that uncovered apparent evidence of improper contact between three wealthy businessmen brothers – the Guptas – and senior officials in Zuma’s administration.

The report, which stopped short of asserting criminal behaviour, called for an investigation into whether Zuma, some of his cabinet members and some state companies acted improperly. Among the cases it reviewed was an allegation by the then deputy finance minister that the Guptas offered to secure him his boss’s job, as well as claims that Zuma directed state firms to award tenders to the Guptas. Zuma has stated that the three Gupta brothers – Atul, Ajay and Rajesh – are his friends, but he denies any influence-peddling in their relationship.

The inquiry has heard a series of further serious allegations from witnesses in recent months, describing systematic bribery of officials by businesses seeking favours.

But the hearing could give Zuma, 77, a platform from which to rally supporters, or even attack his successor. Ramaphosa, who served as Zuma’s deputy president, told the Guardian last year that he was prepared to appear before the inquiry in order to account for his actions during what he described as a “very dark period of our recent history”. “The question has been raised: ‘You were there, you were deputy president, and many of these things were happening under your nose. Did you know?’,” Ramaphosa said in an interview. “In time I guess I am going to be required to appear before the [inquiry] to answer certain things … So I will be going to give an account myself of what I knew, what I didn’t know and all that.” He has never been accused of any personal wrongdoing.

Last week Busisiwe Mkhwebane, an independent state anti-corruption ombudsman, claimed that the public enterprises minister, Pravin Gordhan, a close ally of Ramaphosa, abused his powers during a stint as finance minister. Gordhan has denied the charge, which is seen as an indirect attack on the president.

“Ramaphosa is between a rock and a hard place. If he fails to defend Gordhan, then his political credibility will be badly damaged. But the more he defends Gordhan the less he can make a workable compromise within the ANC,” said Ralph Mathekga, an author and analyst.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Demonstrators march against corruption in Durban, South Africa, with posters naming the Guptas, who have links to Jacob Zuma. Photograph: The Times/Getty Images

Mkhwebane has also launched an investigation into Ramaphosa himself after allegations that his presidential campaign fund may have received a donation from a company that is implicated in the wider state capture inquiry.

The ANC is split between reformists who back Ramaphosa’s anti-graft drive and favour more business-friendly policies, and others, often loyal to Zuma, who call for more radical measures to redistribute wealth.

Zuma appointed loyalists to hundreds of top positions in the police, tax revenue services, intelligence agencies and other top public posts.

Allies say Ramaphosa is a pragmatist who does not want to split the ANC but there is rising frustration with the slow pace of reform. “It’s all about compromises with Ramaphosa but the need for changes is so urgent in South Africa that you need firm, fast action,” Mathekga said.

The continuing uncertainty and absence of obvious headline measures to boost growth has hit investment.

“Ramaphosa needs to own the levers of power and the commanding heights of the economy. He is still playing Mr Nice Guy and is being frustrated in bringing about the reform that is necessary ... that might require a more disruptive approach,” said Dominic Armstrong, chief executive of the Horatius Fund, an investment group.

Zuma faces a separate corruption investigation involving 16 charges of fraud, racketeering and money laundering relating to a deal to buy European military hardware to upgrade South Africa’s armed forces in 1994. He denies the charges. The state capture inquiry hearings have been broadcast live, and attracted large numbers of viewers.

It is unclear how cooperative Zuma will be during the hearings but his lawyer, Dan Mantsha, said on TV last week that his client was “relishing the moment”.