Malema corners Zuma on Nkandla

EFF leader Julius Malema. File photo: Nic Bothma

EFF leader Julius Malema. File photo: Nic Bothma

Published Aug 6, 2015

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Parliament - After two noisy hours in the National Assembly, Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema put his party’s trademark question on Nkandla to President Jacob Zuma and his party began heckling the president to demand that he reimburse the state for upgrades to his house.

Zuma responded that the question was premature as the issue was still before an ad hoc committee mulling Police Minister Nathi Nhleko’s report - which found that he was not liable to repay a cent as all features doubled up as security measures.

“The matter relating to the security upgrades at Nkandla is being discussed by this Parliament through the ad hoc committee on the police minister’s report. I have also responded to Parliament on this matter before, so I believe the question is premature as matters have not yet been concluded by this house.”

Malema retorted: “The president is not answering my question because I am not talking about those other things.

“The matter has been a big problem for all of us, so don’t tell me about the video games of Nhleko,” he added

“When are you paying back the money? Because that is what the Public Protector says you must do. You can engage any other process you want, it will not help you because that is the question all South Africans want to know: when will you pay back the money?”

Speaker Baleka Mbete responded that Zuma had answered the question, albeit it not to Malema’s liking.

At that EFF chief whip Floyd Shivambu and his party members rose and began shouting at Zuma to respond to the question properly.

United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa rose and asked them to stop but he was drowned out.

“I can tell that the honourable members of the EFF are now intent on disrupting,” Mbete began but was shouted down by EFF MP Primrose Sonti, who pointed her finger at the Speaker and concluded a long interjection by chanting “wrong, wrong , wrong”.

Finally, Holomisa silenced the EFF benches to ask Zuma why he did not seek a judicial review of Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s adverse findings against him on spending on his rural home.

Zuma responded that it was mistaken to think Madonsela’s reports had the power of court rulings.

“One of the mistakes I believe some members are making is that she has made a judgment, it is not a judgment,” Zuma said

He was loudly interrupted by the EFF’s Godrich Gardee, sending tempers soaring again in the chamber from which presiding officers have twice in the past year had the EFF forcibly removed by police after they tried to corner Zuma on the Nkandla controversy.

ANA

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