Court ruling: Zuma to #paybackthemoney

Chief Justice Mogoeng made the ruling during the hearing in the Constitutional Court on Thursday.

He ruled that Zuma failed to uphold the Constitution and therefore must personally pay the amount determined by the National Treasury within 45 days.

Public Protector Thulisile Madonsela’s report on her Nkandla findings stated that the necessary remedial action is for Zuma to:

• take steps, with the assistance of the National Treasury and the SAPS, to determine the reasonable cost of the measures implemented by the Department of Public Works at his private residence that do not relate to security, which include the visitors’ centre, amphitheatre, cattle kraal, chicken run and swimming pool;

• pay a reasonable percentage of the cost of the measures as determined with the assistance of the National Treasury;

• reprimand the Ministers involved for the appalling manner in which the Nkandla project was handled and state funds were abused;

• report to the National Assembly on his comments and actions on this report within 14 days.

The court arrived at the conclusion that the President and his family were unduly enriched as a result of the non-security features.

The Public Protector took remedial action against him in terms of section 182(1)(c) of the Constitution.

Madonsela concluded that several improvements were non-security features.