PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
South Africa: SA faces constitutional crisis over Zuma scandal - opposition
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – South Africa’s so-called “Nkandlagate” scandal took a new turn on Friday with the country’s opposition parties announcing that the issue has become a constitutional crisis.
President Jacob Zuma finds himself under growing pressure after Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, a government-appointed watchdog, demanded that Zuma should refund some of the US$20 million in taxpayers' money that was spent on "security upgrades" at his private home, called Nkandla.
The ruling African National Congress (ANC) has rallied around its embattled leader, saying Madonsela is undermining the structures of state.
However, the official opposition Democratic Alliance on Friday said the ANC is using its levers of power in Parliament to contradict and overrule the Constitution and, as a result, South Africa finds itself in a Constitutional crisis.
It noted that the ANC has used the Ad Hoc Committee appointed to probe the scandal to
deflect any and all liability from Zuma for the money he unduly benefitted at Nkandla.
“They have overridden the loud and well-founded objections of the Opposition Parties, and they have all but negated the Public Protector. All in defence of one man, the ANC would rather see the Constitution crumble,” said DA Parliamentary leader Musi Maimane.
He added that the fact that Zuma has not said a single word to account for the “obscene” amounts of money ploughed into his private home, should disgrace the ANC immensely.
Maimane said that opposition parties will table their own report “to coincide with the tabling of the ANC’s own study group report on Nkandla that they will table to Parliament after 24 October".
-0- PANA CU/VAO 3Oct2014
President Jacob Zuma finds himself under growing pressure after Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, a government-appointed watchdog, demanded that Zuma should refund some of the US$20 million in taxpayers' money that was spent on "security upgrades" at his private home, called Nkandla.
The ruling African National Congress (ANC) has rallied around its embattled leader, saying Madonsela is undermining the structures of state.
However, the official opposition Democratic Alliance on Friday said the ANC is using its levers of power in Parliament to contradict and overrule the Constitution and, as a result, South Africa finds itself in a Constitutional crisis.
It noted that the ANC has used the Ad Hoc Committee appointed to probe the scandal to
deflect any and all liability from Zuma for the money he unduly benefitted at Nkandla.
“They have overridden the loud and well-founded objections of the Opposition Parties, and they have all but negated the Public Protector. All in defence of one man, the ANC would rather see the Constitution crumble,” said DA Parliamentary leader Musi Maimane.
He added that the fact that Zuma has not said a single word to account for the “obscene” amounts of money ploughed into his private home, should disgrace the ANC immensely.
Maimane said that opposition parties will table their own report “to coincide with the tabling of the ANC’s own study group report on Nkandla that they will table to Parliament after 24 October".
-0- PANA CU/VAO 3Oct2014
