CAPE TOWN, April 1 (Xinhua) -- South African President Jacob Zuma pledged on Friday to abide by the Constitutional Court ruling regarding the Nkandla case.
CAPE TOWN, March 3, 2016 (Xinhua) -- South African President Jacob Zuma speaks during the Annual Opening of the National House of Traditional Leaders at the Old Assembly Chamber in Parliament, Cape Town, South Africa, on March 3, 2016. South African President Jacob Zuma on Thursday urged traditional leaders to join the fight against racism. (Xinhua/DOC/Siya Duda)
"I have consistently stated that I would pay an amount towards the Nkandla non-security upgrades once this had been determined by the correct authority," Zuma said in a speech to the nation.
The court has ruled on the matter and has devised a mechanism for such determination by the National Treasury, he said.
The Constitutional Court ruled on Thursday that Zuma flouted the Constitution by ignoring Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's findings into the Nkandla case, in which Zuma was accused of abusing public funding worth 246 million rand (about 16 million U.S. dollars) in security upgrades at his private home in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal Province.
The court also found that Zuma must repay for the upgrades at his private home.
"The National Treasury must determine a reasonable percentage of the costs of those measures which ought to be paid personally by the President," the ruling says.
Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng said the Treasury must report back to the court within 60 days of this order and Zuma must pay the money within 45 days.
In a report released in March 2014, Madonsela claims that Zuma's family unduly benefited from the project and asked Zuma to pay part of the money on the project, a demand rejected by Zuma then.
Remedial action recommended by the Public Protector against Zuma in terms of Constitution is binding, Mogoeng said.
"I respect the judgement and will abide by it," Zuma said in his nationwide speech.
He said he also respects the finding that failure to comply with the remedial action taken against him by the Public Protector is inconsistent with the Constitution.
"I wish to emphasise that I never knowingly or deliberately set out to violate the Constitution, which is the supreme law of the Republic," Zuma said.
Zuma wishes to confirm in line with the findings of both the court and the Public Protector, that he did not act dishonestly or with any personal knowledge of the irregularities by the Department of Public Works with regards to the Nkandla project.
"The intention was not in pursuit of corrupt ends or to use state resources to unduly benefit me and my family. Hence I have agreed to pay for the identified items once a determination is made," said Zuma.
"There are lessons to be learned for all of us in government which augur well for governance in the future," he noted.
"The matter has caused a lot of frustration and confusion, for which I apologise, on my behalf and on behalf of government," he added.
