Zuma: I will pay back the money
President Jacob Zuma has said in a televised address to the nation that he was always willing to pay back money used for non-security related upgrades to his Nkandla homestead.
He also welcomed the Constitutional Court's Thursday judgment that he had to pay back some of the money spent on the upgrades, in line with the remedial action by Madonsela in her report.
"I respected the judgment and will abide by it," Zuma said.
"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.
"It was never my intention not to comply with the remedial action taken against me by the public protector or to derespect [sic] her office."
Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng said on Thursday that "the National Treasury must determine the reasonable costs of those measures implemented by the Department of Public Works at Zuma's Nkandla homestead that do not relate to security‚ namely the visitors’ centre‚ the amphitheatre‚ the cattle kraal‚ the chicken run and the swimming pool only."
The Constitutional Court also found that Zuma and the National Assembly acted against the Constitution by disregarding Madonsela's report.
"I respected the judgment and will abide by it," Zuma said.
"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.
"It was never my intention not to comply with the remedial action taken against me by the public protector or to derespect [sic] her office."
Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng said on Thursday that "the National Treasury must determine the reasonable costs of those measures implemented by the Department of Public Works at Zuma's Nkandla homestead that do not relate to security‚ namely the visitors’ centre‚ the amphitheatre‚ the cattle kraal‚ the chicken run and the swimming pool only."
The Constitutional Court also found that Zuma and the National Assembly acted against the Constitution by disregarding Madonsela's report.