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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Nkandla: South Africa's Zuma challenged in top court | Nkandla: South Africa's Zuma challenged in top court |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| South Africa's top court is hearing an opposition case that the president should repay about $23m (£15m) of state funds used to renovate his rural home. | South Africa's top court is hearing an opposition case that the president should repay about $23m (£15m) of state funds used to renovate his rural home. |
| An independent 2014 report said Jacob Zuma had "benefited unduly" from the upgrades, which include a swimming pool, chicken run and amphitheatre. | An independent 2014 report said Jacob Zuma had "benefited unduly" from the upgrades, which include a swimming pool, chicken run and amphitheatre. |
| He has offered to pay some of the money back but the case is still going ahead. | He has offered to pay some of the money back but the case is still going ahead. |
| Protesters, led by former Zuma ally turned fierce opponent Julius Malema, are marching in Johannesburg. | Protesters, led by former Zuma ally turned fierce opponent Julius Malema, are marching in Johannesburg. |
| The demonstration was against "corruption and cronyism", a spokesman for his Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said. | The demonstration was against "corruption and cronyism", a spokesman for his Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said. |
| But Mr Zuma's ANC party called the planned march to the court a "political exercise". | But Mr Zuma's ANC party called the planned march to the court a "political exercise". |
| Latest updates from court and protests | Latest updates from court and protests |
| How Zuma's home has grown | |
| Political row | Political row |
| The constitutional court in Johannesburg is being asked to rule on whether the government flouted the law by ignoring recommendations of the 2014 report by the anti-corruption watchdog, known as the Public Protector. | |
| Mr Zuma has been cleared of wrongdoing in a police report over his residence in rural Nkandla. | |
| The government has said the upgrades were made to boost security, and the swimming pool was, in fact, a "fire pool" that could be used in the event a fire broke out at the residence. | |
| The saga has become a major political scandal, at one point sparking scuffles inside parliament. | The saga has become a major political scandal, at one point sparking scuffles inside parliament. |
| It comes at a difficult time for Mr Zuma, who has also been under fire over his sacking of respected Finance Minister Nhalnhla Nene late last year. | It comes at a difficult time for Mr Zuma, who has also been under fire over his sacking of respected Finance Minister Nhalnhla Nene late last year. |
| EFF lawyer Wim Trengrove told the court the president had defied the Public Protector to "enrich himself", South Africa's private News24 website reports. | |
| "His conduct at the time and response to the report was in violation of the constitution," Mr Trengrove is quoted as telling the judges. | |
| Analysis: Milton Nkosi, BBC News, Johannesburg | Analysis: Milton Nkosi, BBC News, Johannesburg |
| Even though President Zuma has now offered to repay the money, the opposition EFF and Democratic Alliance insisted on pressing ahead with the case. | Even though President Zuma has now offered to repay the money, the opposition EFF and Democratic Alliance insisted on pressing ahead with the case. |
| It is not that they do not want the president to pay; they do. | It is not that they do not want the president to pay; they do. |
| But they want to set a precedent by reinforcing the powers of the Public Protector, the corruption watchdog office set up under the country's constitution. | But they want to set a precedent by reinforcing the powers of the Public Protector, the corruption watchdog office set up under the country's constitution. |
| Mr Zuma had justified his reluctance to repay the state by reducing Thuli Madonsela's findings to mere recommendations and said they were not equal to orders given by a court of law. | Mr Zuma had justified his reluctance to repay the state by reducing Thuli Madonsela's findings to mere recommendations and said they were not equal to orders given by a court of law. |
| The EFF smells blood - it hopes the Constitutional Court will conclude that the president contravened the constitution and therefore violated his oath of office. | The EFF smells blood - it hopes the Constitutional Court will conclude that the president contravened the constitution and therefore violated his oath of office. |
| The opposition would then no doubt demand the president's impeachment. | The opposition would then no doubt demand the president's impeachment. |