President Jacob Zuma did what he does best when he responded to questions in parliament on Thursday. He took opposition parties and the nation at large for fools. He was arrogant, defensive and evasive in his last question and answer session for the year.

He was supported by the governing party members of parliament when he put in his best performance, deftly avoiding answering questions.

ANC MPs howled at the opposition, demonstrating that they did not believe the president had to account to the nation. Zuma also dismissed with arrogance the efforts of opposition parties to make him account to them.

When he could not get his way, Zuma was helped by Speaker Baleka Mbete, who conveniently forgot that her job is not to cover for the errant head of state but to run parliament.

Zuma did not answer simple questions, including allegations contained in a book by investigative journalist Jacques Pauw saying he is a tax dodger and that he received money from crooks.

Now the State Security Agency has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Pauw and his publisher over the revelations in the book. Why is Zuma running? Does it mean he is a tax dodger?

Zuma thrives on manipulation, lies and more lies. He tried to blame the Constitutional Court for his decision not to sack Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini. The court's order instructing Dlamini to fix the crisis she herself caused in relation to social grants is sufficient grounds for him to fire her.

Of course, he won't act on her because Dlamini does his dirty work and she is leading Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma's campaign to become ANC president.

The move is intended to give Zuma a safe landing when he faces the very real possibility of going to jail. It is this reality that explains the arrogance and threats in the National Assembly last Thursday.

Underneath the jokes and the wisecracks lurks a dangerous and desperate man. That is why he made threats against those demanding a judicial commission of inquiry into state capture.

He basically said he would not go down alone because smallernyana skeletons would be dug up when he eventually sets up the commission.

However, Zuma is fast running out of time and options.

The DA might have walked out of the National Assembly on Thursday in frustration at his persistent refusals to answer questions, but I am willing to bet my last cent that the opposition will not let up the pressure to make sure that Zuma eventually has his day in court.