Johannesburg - The ANC caucus and Parliament's presiding officers face a rough week as they try to contain the damage done to the institution’s credibility by the scathing Constitutional Court ruling on Nkandla.
The ANC in Parliament confirmed this past week that it would push for the implementation of the orders issued by the Constitutional Court. “As majority (party), we will play our role in ensuring Parliament implements all these orders,” said ANC caucus spokesman Moloto Mothapo.
Read: ANC to hold top-level meeting after Zuma apology
The ANC caucus will meet on Tuesday.
In a unanimous decision by its 11 justices, the Constitutional Court savaged Parliament for its handling of the public protector’s Nkandla investigation. Parliament, the court found, had failed in its duty to hold the executive accountable, by backing a series of whitewashes that exonerated Zuma.
This was to counter the public protector’s damning report and to shield Zuma from having to pay back potentially millions that were irregularly spent on his private home.
The joint standing committee on intelligence first cleared Zuma on the Nkandla project despite clear directives by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela that Zuma should pay back a portion for the upgrades at his home.
This report was followed by the ad hoc committee on Nkandla, which even visited Zuma’s home in July last year. The ministerial task team cleared Zuma, saying it was the officials who had committed wrongdoing in the Nkandla project.
Parliament’s spokesman, Luzuko Jacobs, would not say when the presiding officers would meet over the matter. “Parliament indicated in its response to the judgment of the Constitutional Court that it will be studying the judgment with a view to take appropriate action,” said Jacobs.
“Once Parliament has finalised this process, the institution will accordingly communicate further on this,” he added.
Mothapo said the judgment did not suggest the image of Parliament had been severely compromised.
“The adverse findings should not mean the integrity is weakened, but rather it should point to the strengthening of Parliament’s constitutional function, which augurs well for the maturity of our democracy and the future of our nation,” said Mothapo.
“Our constitutional democratic make-up thrives on the principles of checks and balances and the separation of powers, which is self-corrective rather than self-destructive,” he said.
He added that the country’s constitution was premised on the rule of law, which forces all state institutions to adhere to this principle.
The judiciary presides over the scrutiny of these institutions.
The ANC also said the judgment would serve as a reference point for future decisions and discussions in Parliament.
Political Bureau
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