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Opposition Parties Want Zuma Sacked Over Nkandla

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Opposition Parties Want Zuma Sacked Over Nkandla Legalbrief | your legal news hub Sunday 26 September 2021 Opposition parties want Zuma sacked over Nkandla Seven opposition parties have vowed to step up a campaign to drive President Jacob Zuma from office after the ANC adopted a report that clears him of responsibility for misspending on his Nkandla homestead, notes a City Press report. DA parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane said minority party MPs would call for Zuma's removal during the debate on the Nkandla report in the National Assembly today because by defying the Public Protector's findings he had violated the Constitution. In their alternative report on the work done at Nkandla, the seven opposition parties found Zuma was fully aware of the upgrades, notes a Business Day report. The report finds that 'President Zuma knew full well what was unfolding at Nkandla and knew that buildings far in excess of his own home were being built for him.' Zuma's attitude to the overwhelming evidence and findings against him was unbecoming of a President of the Republic; and he 'intended to mislead Parliament about the existence of a bond over his Nkandla property that paid for the upgrades to the property.' The report recommends Zuma be removed from office because he has seriously violated the Constitution by failing to assist and protect the Public Protector, and that he be ordered to repay a percentage of the money spent. ANC Chief Whip Stone Sizani said: 'The thorough and lengthy process through which this committee conducted its business ... cannot be compared to a DA-sponsored propaganda brochure which contains the same obsessive anti-President Zuma rhetoric they canvassed even before the formation of the committee. The report of the ad hoc committee is a product of a thorough, transparent and open process conducted unlike the DA 'report' where neither its basis nor its source can be proven.' Full Business Day report (subscription needed) Maimane said the opposition group would launch a court bid to force the President to reimburse the state. 'I think we have a case in law,' he said. 'Until such time as Jacob Zuma accounts for the massive undue benefit he received personally at Nkandla, the threat of legal action against him will remain front and centre in our programme of action.' City Press points out the report adopted by an ad hoc committee made up entirely of ANC MPs after the opposition withdrew, relied heavily on a recent Western Cape High Court judgment to reject Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's findings that Zuma had been enriched and must repay the state for a portion of the R246m project. Madonsela plans to challenge Judge Ashton Schippers' ruling that her orders of remedial action are not binding. COPE leader Mosiuoa Lekota said once the Constitutional Court had heard the review, the opposition coalition would go to court to force Zuma to comply with her findings Full City Press report MPs are also incensed at the ANC's use of its majority to stop the committee from calling witnesses to speak for themselves, and for not calling Madonsela and Zuma, notes a report in The Times. The DA, EFF, ACDP, UDM, Freedom Front Plus, COPE and Agang pledged to stand together against the ANC in Parliament today on the Nkandla issue. The IFP is expected to join them this afternoon if its caucus agrees to this. The report notes the EFF will try to stop its behaviour in Parliament during presidential question time from being debated today. MP Godrich Gardee confirmed last night that the party was to approach the Western Cape High Court to seek an interdict against the discussion in the National Assembly. Full report in The Times Nkandla ad hoc committee report In the meantime, a support group has launched its fund-raising initiative to pay back Nkandla money on Zuma's behalf, Beeld reports. The Public Members Unit Team (PMUT) said people can SMS the word 'Amandla' to a specified number to donate either R5 or R10. A range of other initiatives will be launched, spokesperson Sylvester Mathebula said. He said South Africans should respect the Presidency and Zuma 'regardless of how citizens, the courts and other (political parties) feel'. The country cannot move forward while the Nkandla matter is tarnishing the reputation of the President, PMUT claims. Symes Attorneys in Johannesburg confirmed that they had been appointed to oversee the collection process. Full Beeld report.
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