Opposition parties undermining ConCourt on Nkandla – ANC

28th June 2016 By: News24Wire

Opposition parties undermining ConCourt on Nkandla – ANC

Opposition parties are undermining the Constitutional Court's decisions by questioning the National Treasury report on Nkandla, African National Congress (ANC) spokesperson Zizi Kodwa told News24 on Tuesday.

"This means we are one step closer to finalise the issues of Nkandla. We know other parties would not want to see the chapter closed because it would make them irrelevant. If you take away Nkandla you would make political abuse docile and irrelevant," Kodwa said.

Kodwa said complainants in the Nkandla matter must accept the Constitutional Court judgment and not undermine it.

"The court did not say to National Treasury, go and have rallies or door-to-door visits and ask people how much the president should pay. The complaints must know courts are final arbitration and complainants must accept the ruling and not undermine its decisions. By questioning National Treasury they are undermining the court," he said.

National Treasury submitted its report with one day to spare. It determined that President Jacob Zuma had to pay R7.8-million for the non-security upgrades to his Nkandla homestead, based on 2009 prices.

Reacting to the report, Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane said Zuma must repay 100% of the reasonable costs of the upgrades.

He said this would be in the interests of justice, fairness and accountability.

On March 31, the Constitutional Court gave National Treasury 60 days to determine the reasonable costs of the non-security upgrades.

The Constitutional Court said Zuma had to pay within 45 days of the court approving the Treasury’s report.

The costs included R2.3-million for the so-called fire pool, R1-million for the amphitheatre and R1.2-million for the cattle kraal.

Treasury said in its report that two firms provided three experts each for the panel which helped determine the amount.

The two quantity surveying companies each visited the Nkandla homestead on separate days, May 10 and 11. Members of the security cluster, Presidency, and Treasury officials accompanied the quantity surveyors on their visit.