SOUTH AFRICAN COURT ASKS PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA TO RETURN FUNDS SPENT ON HIS HOMESTEAD

South African President, Jacob Zuma has been asked by the courts on Thursday to return moneys spent on upgrading his Nkandla homestead that are non-security related.
President Zuma has welcomed the judgement of the courts and in a televised address to South Africans promised to pay back the funds as directed by the courts.

Opposition parties had filed two cases against the president alledging misuse of government funds for renovation of his homestead.

11 Justices of South Africa's Constitutional Court had unanimously ruled that President Zuma defied the constitution when he used $15million state funds to renovate his private home and ordered a refund of some of the sum spent on renovations , the amount which will be determined by the National Treasury.

Zuma apologised for any inconvenience the prolonged matter had caused the citizens of South Africa saying,

"The matter has caused a lot of frustration and confusion, for which I apologise, on my behalf and on behalf of the government".

Zuma's address reads in part,

"Yesterday, the Constitutional Court of the Republic, playing this crucial role, issued a judgement on the matter of security upgrades at my private residence in Nkandla"

"I welcome the judgement of the Constiutional Court unreservedly.

"The judgement has underscored the values that underpin our hard-won freedom and democracy, such as the rule of law and accountability of public office bearers, while also respecting the rights of public office bearers facing scrutiny.

"The judgement has further strengthened our constitutional democracy and should make South Africans proud of their country's Constitution and its strong and effective institutions.

"This is a ground-breaking judgement with regards to powers of the Public Protector.

"I have consistently stated that I would pay an amount towards the Nkandla non-security upgrades once this had been determined by the correct authority. The court has ruled on the matter and has devised a mechanism for such determination by the National Treasury.

"I wish to emphasise that I never knowingly or deliberately set out to violate the Constitution, which is the supreme law of the Republic".

Denying any deliberate corruption on his part, Zuma said,

"The intention was not in pursuit of corrupt ends or to use state resources to unduly benefit me and my family. Hence I have agreed to pay for the identified items once a determination is made.