Johannesburg – The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) on Thursday welcomed the ruling by the Constitutional Court ordering President Jacob Zuma to pay a portion of state money spent on upgrades at his Nkandla residence, and further called on the president to step down immediately.
“Zuma’s journey ends here… Zuma’s case ends here. Anyone who wants to question this matter any further would be questioning the court,” EFF leader Julius Malema told reporters at a briefing following the judgment.
Malema on what it takes to be a president: #IOL @IOL #Concourt pic.twitter.com/LgfA1f8Nyr
— Star Reporter (@ReporterStar) March 31, 2016
“We call on Zuma to step down and to do that with immediate effect.”
The Constitutional Court rightly affirmed the powers of Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, he said.
“We are happy that the powers of the Public Protector have been confirmed, we are also happy that the process for Zuma to pay back the money has been clarified. He failed to uphold and defend the constitution.”
Malema said the ANC should recall Zuma, or else the EFF would table a motion of impeachment in Parliament.
The Democratic Alliance earlier indicated that it had launched impeachment steps against Zuma.
“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,” DA leader Mmusi Maimane told reporters outisde the Constiturional Court on Thursday.
Maimane said: “If I were him I would be drafting a resignation letter”.
He added: “As we always maintained the president acted outside the prescripts of the law. Now is not the time for MPs to fail the nation again. It is time for them to act now and remove Zuma from office.”
United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa said the ruling was a victory for democracy and called on the ruling ANC to remove Zuma from office.
“All that is left for President Jacob Zuma is to pack his bags and go because he has been given a red card,” said Holomisa.
Cope leader Mosiuoa Lekota said: “This judgment is a relief … it has saved our democracy. It has made it clear that it does not matter how much of a majority you have, because that majority is useless if it does not stand for the interests of the people of this country”.
Now that the Constitutional Court has ruled against Zuma, the way has been opened for opposition parties to begin impeachment processes, but according to constitutional law expert Pierre de Vos, these processes could be futile.
“It is the leadership of the ANC (and not the EFF, DA or ANC members of the National Assembly) that will decide what political action - if any - should be taken against the president,” said De Vos.
“f the party leadership become convinced that it stands to lose serious ground in the local government elections or that it stands to lose its overall majority at the next national elections because of the Nkandla scandal, it may well be persuaded to act,” he added.
African News Agency and The Star