It looks like any other media release from the South African Presidency. But this message has surprised many South Africans. It states that President Jacob Zuma has offered to repay some of money spent on his rural home, Nkandla.
At current rates, the upgrade cost the taxpayer around 16 million dollars. Neither Zuma nor the ruling African National Congress say he has done anything wrong. But in coming days, the opposition is seeking to use Nkandla against Zuma in Parliament to disrupt the state of the nation speech. Last year, clashes broke out ahead of the speech and opposition MPs walked out, some under guard.
The president’s offer to repay, could be seen as a pre-emptive strike.
‘The timing of the announcement of the offer of the settlement is interesting, because on the one hand it could play a political role of robbing the opposition parties from some ammunition during the State of the Nation Addresss because they will not now be able to complain and demand that the president pay back the money, because he has now agreed to pay back the money.’ Professor Pierre De Vos, Legal analyst
But what will ultimately happen next in the controversial Nkandla saga, will be decided by the judges of South Africa’s Constitutional Court in Johannesburg… The highest Court in the land. The country’s corruption watchdog – the public protector – already has requested the president repay some money. The opposition wants the Constitutional Court to compel the president to repay.
“We’ve made a commitment to the people of South Africa to say that we will fight to ensure that the president complies with the Public Protector. We’re simply following through with that.” Mmusi Maimen, leader, Democratic Alliance
The Nkandla issue has angered and divided South Africans for several years now. President Zuma wants to draw a line under the affair and get the country focused on what the ANC calls, the good stories to tell.
