Politics
South African president survived an impeachment vote in parliament on Tuesday that was launched after the constitutional court ruled that he ignored an order to repay state funds spent on his private home.
Jacob Zuma had the support of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), which controls almost two-thirds of the assembly. Despite rumblings of discontent within the ANC party over a series of scandals involving the president, 233 lawmakers voted against the impeachment motion, while 143 voted in favour. Zuma did not attend the impeachment proceedings, which was delayed after opposition politicians demanded that the Speaker of parliament recuse herself from presiding over the proceedings. The court ruled last Thursday that Zuma had flouted the constitution by failing to repay some of the money spent on renovating his private home at Nkandla in the eastern KwaZulu-Natal province. The project, which cost taxpayers $16m, included a swimming pool, a chicken run, a cattle enclosure and an amphitheatre.
In 2014, South Africa's anti-corruption watchdog Thuli Madonsela ordered him to repay the portion of the money not related to security upgrades. Mr Zuma had "unduly benefited" from the building of a swimming pool, amphitheatre, cattle enclosure and chicken run, Ms Madonsela said. The DA and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) went to the Constitutional Court to challenge Mr Zuma's refusal to pay the money. The court ruled against Mr Zuma and also condemned parliament for failing to hold Mr Zuma accountable, and rejecting the public protector's findings. In a televised address to the nation on Friday, Mr Zuma apologised for the "frustration" caused by the long-running controversy and said he would abide by the ruling. He had acted "in good faith" and "never knowingly and deliberately set out to violate the constitution", he added.
