×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

Presidency says ‘Zuma has been consistent on Nkandla’

Picture credit: Gallo Images
Picture credit: Gallo Images

The Presidency has said that Jacob Zuma never said he wouldn’t pay back the money.

In an attempt to change this perception‚ in the light on Tuesday’s announcement of a settlement proposal filed with the Constitutional Court‚ the Presidency released a statement on Thursday headlined: “President Zuma has been consistent on Nkandla matter”.

This contained a full transcript of an interview with Zuma’s legal advisor Michael Hulley as well as links to YouTube clips of the president answering questions in the National Assembly on the issue.

Zuma’s proposal on Tuesday asked the court to task the auditor-general and the finance minister to determine how much he must pay.

This was widely seen as a U-turn and an attempt to avoid an embarrassing defeat when the Constitutional Court hears opposition parties’ applications on the matter next Tuesday.

But Hulley say the “approach is consistent with what had been contained in the president’s affidavit wherein he sets out that he will adopt the findings of the public protector and in so far as there needs to be a mechanism which needs to be created to determine what is reasonable costs and consequently what would be a reasonable amount‚ if any‚ that the president ought then to pay”.

 Hulley framed this proposal as an “endeavour to bring about a mechanism‚ using a Chapter 9 institution like the auditor-general which would aid and assist if the court deems it necessary in determining what the audited expenditure was and what the audited contribution then would be that the President ought to pay”.

“I think where the variance has been as to what that process must be and who would be engaged in that process‚” he added.

Hulley also pointed out that:

- “There has been no adverse finding made by the public protector that renders the president culpable on any matter;

 - “The president…complied with the public protector’s directive that he must report within 14 days to Parliament‚ he set out in Parliament that he would compose the mechanism to determine those issues;

- “In filing his papers before the Constitutional Court in November of last year‚ 2015‚ he alluded to the fact that he has not at any stage failed to comply with the public protector’s report.”

 It was in those papers that‚ Hulley claimed‚ Zuma first “set out and proposed to all the parties and the court respectfully that the adoption of the use of the auditor-general‚ coupled with an official from National Treasury would be the best independent persons that should be able to make such an adjudication”.

“The President has always sought to implement the mechanism which would determine whether there’s an amount that he ought to pay in respect of the security features that have been implemented at his residence‚” he said.

“This is not a new approach that has been adopted‚ the president both in answering questions in Parliament‚ coupled with his address‚ has always said he would abide by the process.”

Hulley concluded by describing the “intervention which the president seeks to make…(as) an effort to bring about accountability and responsibility on the part of the executive in respect of its conduct”.

 

 

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.