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Roundup: Zuma faces impeachment as court rules he violates Constitution

Xinhua, April 1, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Constitutional Court ruled on Thursday that President Jacob Zuma violated the Constitution by not paying the money for the upgrade of his private home as recommended by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela.

The judgment was handed down by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng at the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg.

Mogoeng stated that the Treasury should determine the money used in "non security" upgrades, which must be personally be paid by the president.

"The National Treasury must report back to this Court on the outcome of its determination within 60 days of the date of this order," he said.

Over 246 million rand (16 million U.S. dollars) allegedly was spent to upgrade Zuma's private home in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal Province.

The Court also stated that the country's National Assembly violated the Constitution by absolving the President on the Nkandla issue.

"The resolution by the National Assembly absolving the president from compliance with the Public Protector's remedial action is inconsistent with the Constitution, is invalid, and set aside," Mogoeng said in the ruling.

The deputy Public Protector Kelvin Malunga told journalists that they are vindicated by the judgment and welcomed it.

"This is a great day for the Public Protector as an institution, but it is a great day for South Africa. We are extremely proud," Malunga said.

The leader of the opposition party, Mmusi Maimane of the Democratic Alliance (DA), told journalist outside the Court that they are happy with the judgment and will impeach the President.

"If I was President Jacob Zuma, I would be preparing my letter of resignation. Today's ruling is clear in this regard, President Jacob Zuma's action amounts to a serious violation of the Constitution, and constitutes grounds for impeachment," he said.

Mosiuoa Patrick Lekota, a leader of the opposition political party, Congress of the People, said he will consult with his party whether to support the impeachment motion or not.

Also on Thursday, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) expressed respect for the unanimous judgement delivered by the Constitutional Court over the Nkandla case.

"The Constitutional Court is and remains the guardian of the Constitution of the Republic and the final arbiter on matters before it, hence the ANC welcomes the clarity provided by the Court on the binding nature of the powers of the Public Protector," the party said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the government said Zuma respects the judgement.

The president will reflect on the judgement and its implications on the state and government, and will in consultation with other impacted institutions of state to determine the appropriate action, it said. Enditem