Zuma ordered to step down

CAPE TOWN - Opposition parties in South Africa on Wednesday said the country's president, Jacob Zuma, must be removed from office and Parliament must order him to repay a reasonable percentage of the money spent on upgrades to his private Nkandla home, EWN reported.

The combined opposition parties including the Democratic Alliance (DA), Economic Freedom Fighters, United Democratic Movement, Freedom Front Plus, Congress of the People and AgangSA have just delivered their response to the findings and recommendations of the Nkandla ad-hoc committee which absolves Zuma, despite the findings by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela.

In her report released in March, Madonsela said Zuma and his family improperly benefitted from the R246 million upgrades, which included a cattle enclosure and amphitheatre.
The ad-hoc committee was reduced to six African National Congress (ANC) Members of Parliament (MPs) after opposition parties walked out two months ago.

The opposition parties say Zuma must go because he's in violation of the Constitution which says he must help and defend the public protector.

The parties have compiled a counter report to that of the Nkandla ad-hoc committee which they label an ANC "study group."

In its final report, the Nkandla ad-hoc committee said state security experts must re-evaluate security at the president's home and referred the matter back to Cabinet.

In a joint statement read by DA Parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane, they accused the ANC of abandoning the constitution.

"All in defence of one man, the ANC would rather see the Constitution crumble."

The parties say Zuma knew full well what was unfolding at Nkandla and is hiding behind a Parliamentary process stacked with his own cheerleaders to get him off the hook.

The Nkandla ad-hoc committee's report is scheduled to be debated in the National Assembly tomorrow.