High Court hears Nkandla SMS case Featured
- Written by Hornelia Langa
Members of the media surround ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu after the the court session.
On Wednesday the African National Congress (ANC) took the Democratic Alliance (DA) to the Gauteng South High Court in Johannesburg accusing it of violating the Electoral Act.
ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said the DA was misleading the public. “The DA contravened the Electoral Act going against the law. There is no such finding in the Public Protector’s report that the president stole from the public funds,” said Mthembu.
He added that the Public Protector says the president used his own money to build Nkandla. “This means that Jacob Zuma is being falsely accused.”
Gauteng premier candidate Mmusi Maimane said the SMS issued by the DA to 1.6 million potential voters stated that President Jacob Zuma stole public funds to upgrade his private residence at Nkandla. “Therefore the voters must vote for the DA on 7 May, and beat corruption, it was fair comment. There was nothing spiteful about what it said, R250 million of taxpayers’ money was wasted on Nkandla. We feel it is unfortunate the case was brought by the ANC, because Gauteng is close and the ANC knows they might lose this province, so they took us to court,” said Maimane.
Public Protector Thuli Madonsela found that Zuma and his family had unduly benefited from security upgrades to his private home in Nkandla. She recommended that a percentage of the money be repaid.
“The court has to compel the DA to comply with the Electoral Act and not publish false information targeting Zuma. The court will rule on Friday, as the ANC we are confident that the court will rule in favour of the public,” said Mthembu.
Court Pctures
