Johannesburg -President Jacob Zuma’s decision to ignore the recommendations of Public Protector Thuli Madonsela undermines her office, the DA said on Monday.
“The DA condemns in the strongest terms President Jacob Zuma’s statement that he has done nothing wrong with respect to Nkandla and won’t repay the money he has been instructed to by... Madonsela,” parliamentaryleader Lindiwe Mazibuko said in a statement.
“This is an insult to every South African who has been deprived because of the redirection of millions of rands to upgrade the president’s private residence in KwaZulu-Natal.”
The Democratic Alliance had asked its lawyers to consider what steps could be taken to force Zuma to comply with the recommendations in Madonsela's report.
The report found that Zuma and his family improperly benefited from the R246 million security upgrades to his Nkandla homestead that included a cattle kraal, a swimming pool and an amphitheatre.
On Monday it was reported that Zuma told a crowd in Gugulethu he would not repay the money because he did not ask for the upgrades. He placed the blame on government officials.
“They did this without telling me,” he told ANN7.
“So why should I pay for something I did not ask for.”
Mazibuko said that Zuma could not absolve himself from responsibility.
“If he didn’t ask for them (upgrades) then why did he not intervene to stop them from taking place?” she asked.
Mazibuko said Parliament must investigate if he misled them, and whether he should be removed from office.
“President Zuma cannot claim ignorance on this matter. It is misleading and disingenuous, and Parliament... now has a duty to investigate fully whether he misled the House and broke the law, and consequently, whether he should be removed from office,” she said.
“The DA will continue to do everything possible to ensure all those responsible for this wrongdoing - including Zuma - are held to account.” - Sapa