/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The IFP calls on President Zuma's backers to rather donate to the needy
instead of wasting money on attempting to bail out President Jacob Zuma
after one of these tycoons offered to raise funds and settle President Jacob
Zuma's debt after the security upgrades at his private homestead in Nkandla.

"President Zuma is not poor he can afford to pay his debt. With his monthly
salary he can afford to pay all his debt without any bail out. He cannot
accept such an offer as it will mean that he acknowledges that the money
spent on his home constitutes unlawful spending of public funds," said IFP
Secretary General, Ms Sibongile Nkomo.

"If these so called backers are keen to offer financial assistance, they
should rather focus on helping needy people rather than wasting money on
this issue. There are many people in our country who are in desperate need
of food and shelter, therefore these so called good Samaritans should divert
their goodwill to help those in need as they are the ones who deserve
assistance," continued Ms Sibongile Nkomo.

"This offer by these so called backers raises more questions such as whether
President Zuma approached them for assistance? Has he agreed that he knows
what was happening at his home and therefore wants to pay back the money?
Why has this group agreed to help pay this huge sum of money? Will there be
more corrupt deals handed out to those who are coming to rescue the leader
of the ANC? If President Zuma is not guilty of any wrong doing in this
matter he must show his true leadership by not accepting this offer,"
concluded Ms Nkomo.

Issued by IFP