Faizel Patel, 2016-03-31
The Constitutional Court will this morning hand down judgment on the Nkandla matter in a ruling that’s been described as a seminal moment for South Africa’s democracy.
Judges will rule on the application brought by the EFF, DA & Public Protector Thuli Madonsela that President Jacob Zuma pay for the benefits he and his family received through government spending on security upgrades to his home after previously saying he did not benefit from the upgrades.
Zuma’s lawyers finally told the court he would be happy to pay some of the money.
The Constitutional Court Judges know that they must focus only on the law but this case will have huge political ramifications.
Zuma has been strongly criticised for refusing to pay back the money and then conceding only at the last minute that he did have to pay.
Any strong finding against Zuma will result in more calls for him to resign particularly if his found to have broken his oath to uphold the constitution.
Opposition parties are waiting to see if they can lodge impeachment proceedings against Zuma, but the real issue maybe how this judgment actually plays out within the African National Congress (ANC).
– EWN
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