PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
South Africa: Zuma battered by Constitutional Court hearing
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – Following two years of ducking and diving in the wake of Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s damning report on the upgrades to President Jacob Zuma’s US$20 million private residence, his lawyers have conceded that Madonsela’s report is, after all, binding.
The Zuma administration has been rocked by revelations that he used taxpayers' money to build a swimming pool, amphitheater and cattle pen at his sprawling Nkandla homestead in KwaZulu-Natal.
The hearings which got underway on Tuesday morning in the highest court in the land were broadcast live on national television.
The main application was brought by the two opposition political parties – the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) – who are calling for legal recognition of Madonsela who ordered that Zuma is liable to repay a portion of the funds that were spent on his rural home.
On Tuesday, Zuma’s advocate Jeremy Gauntlett, in a complete about turn, contradicted two-years of denials by the Presidency and conceded that the Public Protector’s findings should “stand and bind”.
Zuma and his allies had repeatedly argued that the Public Protector’s findings were not binding which had undermined her position and brought her office into disrepute. Gauntlett urged a full panel of the Constitutional Court to think carefully about making a ruling which could lead to the impeachment of Zuma. “This is a delicate time in a dangerous year,” he said.
The court reserved judgement.
EFF leader Julius Malema who led a march of several thousand supporters to the Constitutional Court reminded the ruling African National Congress (ANC) about its 2008 decision to recall President Thabo Mbeki based on a court ruling. Malema told supporters his party will do everything in its power to remove Zuma, adding that his party will institute impeachment procedures if the ANC doesn’t recall him.
Meanwhile, three major anti-Zuma marches have been planned in Cape Town ahead of Zuma’s State of the Nation address on Thursday night. Last year’s proceedings ended in chaos when the President was prevented from delivering his speech and MPs were dragged out of the National Assembly.
-0- PANA CU/MA 10Feb2016
The Zuma administration has been rocked by revelations that he used taxpayers' money to build a swimming pool, amphitheater and cattle pen at his sprawling Nkandla homestead in KwaZulu-Natal.
The hearings which got underway on Tuesday morning in the highest court in the land were broadcast live on national television.
The main application was brought by the two opposition political parties – the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) – who are calling for legal recognition of Madonsela who ordered that Zuma is liable to repay a portion of the funds that were spent on his rural home.
On Tuesday, Zuma’s advocate Jeremy Gauntlett, in a complete about turn, contradicted two-years of denials by the Presidency and conceded that the Public Protector’s findings should “stand and bind”.
Zuma and his allies had repeatedly argued that the Public Protector’s findings were not binding which had undermined her position and brought her office into disrepute. Gauntlett urged a full panel of the Constitutional Court to think carefully about making a ruling which could lead to the impeachment of Zuma. “This is a delicate time in a dangerous year,” he said.
The court reserved judgement.
EFF leader Julius Malema who led a march of several thousand supporters to the Constitutional Court reminded the ruling African National Congress (ANC) about its 2008 decision to recall President Thabo Mbeki based on a court ruling. Malema told supporters his party will do everything in its power to remove Zuma, adding that his party will institute impeachment procedures if the ANC doesn’t recall him.
Meanwhile, three major anti-Zuma marches have been planned in Cape Town ahead of Zuma’s State of the Nation address on Thursday night. Last year’s proceedings ended in chaos when the President was prevented from delivering his speech and MPs were dragged out of the National Assembly.
-0- PANA CU/MA 10Feb2016
