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Jacob Zuma breached constitution over home upgrades, South African court rules
Source: The Guardian
Jacob Zuma breached constitution over home upgrades, South African court rules
Court says president should have respected report ordering him
to repay money for lavish home improvements
Jessica Elgot
Thursday 31 March 2016 12.14 BST
South Africa’s top court has ruled that the president, Jacob Zuma, failed to uphold the constitution when he ignored a state order to repay some of the government funds used in an £11m upgrade to his private residence, including a swimming pool and amphitheatre.
The court also ruled that parliament, which is dominated by the ruling African National Congress, had failed in its obligations by not holding Zuma to account.
In what will be a costly judgment for Zuma in financial and political terms, the constitutional court ordered that he must personally pay back the cost of those improvements to his residence, Nkandla, that were not essential for security, including a cattle enclosure, a visitor centre and a chicken run.
The national treasury should determine the reasonable costs within 60 days, the judges ruled, with Zuma required to pay the bill just over a month later. He has denied any wrongdoing.
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Court says president should have respected report ordering him
to repay money for lavish home improvements
Jessica Elgot
Thursday 31 March 2016 12.14 BST
South Africa’s top court has ruled that the president, Jacob Zuma, failed to uphold the constitution when he ignored a state order to repay some of the government funds used in an £11m upgrade to his private residence, including a swimming pool and amphitheatre.
The court also ruled that parliament, which is dominated by the ruling African National Congress, had failed in its obligations by not holding Zuma to account.
In what will be a costly judgment for Zuma in financial and political terms, the constitutional court ordered that he must personally pay back the cost of those improvements to his residence, Nkandla, that were not essential for security, including a cattle enclosure, a visitor centre and a chicken run.
The national treasury should determine the reasonable costs within 60 days, the judges ruled, with Zuma required to pay the bill just over a month later. He has denied any wrongdoing.
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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/31/jacob-zuma-ordered-repay-upgrades-nkandla-home-south-african-state-funds