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Nkandla: South Africa's Zuma challenged in top court | Nkandla: South Africa's Zuma challenged in top court |
(about 2 hours 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, have marched to the court. | |
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. |
The Democratic Alliance (DA) opposition party has also also organised its own protest outside the court in Johannesburg, where there is a strong police presence. | |
Mr Zuma's ANC party called the protests a "political exercise". | |
Latest updates from court and protests | Latest updates from court and protests |
How Zuma's home has grown | How Zuma's home has grown |
'Unlawful enrichment' | |
The constitutional court 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. | Mr Zuma has been cleared of wrongdoing in a police report over his residence in rural Nkandla. |
The hashtag #PayBackTheMoney, mirroring the slogan used by EFF members to taunt the president, has been trending in South Africa, as people comment on the court case: | |
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 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. |
EFF lawyer Wim Trengrove told the court the president had defied the Public Protector to unlawfully "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. | "His conduct at the time and response to the report was in violation of the constitution," Mr Trengrove is quoted as telling the judges. |
The case comes at a difficult time for Mr Zuma, who has also been under fire over his handling of the finance ministry. | The case comes at a difficult time for Mr Zuma, who has also been under fire over his handling of the finance ministry. |
He sacked the respected Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene late last year, and appointed the little-known Des van Rooyen to the post in what critics saw as an attempt by him to increase his influence over the running of the country's finances. | He sacked the respected Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene late last year, and appointed the little-known Des van Rooyen to the post in what critics saw as an attempt by him to increase his influence over the running of the country's finances. |
The decision led to the value of South Africa's currency plunging and opposition groups calling for Mr Zuma's resignation. | The decision led to the value of South Africa's currency plunging and opposition groups calling for Mr Zuma's resignation. |
He bowed to the pressure by dismissing Mr Van Rooyen four days later, and appointing the highly regarded Pravin Gordhan to the post. | He bowed to the pressure by dismissing Mr Van Rooyen four days later, and appointing the highly regarded Pravin Gordhan to the post. |
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. |