Cape Town - With days to go to the local government elections, the Democratic Alliance on Friday challenged President Jacob Zuma to make a public commitment that he would reimburse the state R7.8 million for work on his Nkandla home out of his own pocket.
Zuma was ordered by the Constitutional Court at the end of March to refund the public purse for luxuries added to his home in one of the biggest scandals of his presidency.
This week, the court approved National Treasury’s calculation of that amount to be R7.8 million.
The DA’s Sej Motau said the official opposition was writing to Zuma to demand that he make “a public commitment that he will pay back the R7.8 million he owes for Nkandlagate ‘personally’.”
Motau said the party would also demand that Zuma furnish Parliament with proof that he alone repaid the sum.
In terms of the court order, Zuma has until September 29 to make the payment.
The DA has repeatedly said the money should not come from donations, but Motau said it decided to petition Zuma following a report that the Madibeng Business Forum in North West province had offered to help him.
“What was deeply concerning is that the President did not rebuff this clearly inappropriate commitment,” he said.
African News Agency