Zuma could be called to testify over Nkandla

Johannesburg – President Jacob Zuma could be called to testify at the disciplinary hearings of 12 senior department of public works and administration officials over the Nkandla debacle. Claude Naiker, the KZN manager of the Public Service Association (PSA), the union representing the officials, could well call Zuma to testify in what he says will be an attempt to exhaust every avenue to defend the officials, who are being held accountable for the exorbitant costs associated with upgrades to Zuma’s KwaZulu-Natal homestead.

Naiker said that the officials faced between five and 18 counts including failure to follow the proper tender process; prejudicing the department; maladministration and not adhering to certain policies and procedures, among others.

A Special Investigating Unit (SIU) probe however found that none of the officials derived any monetary gain from the Nkandla project.
Meanwhile, it was reported on Friday that opposition parties who withdrew from the Nkandla ad hoc committee will table their own report in Parliament, said DA parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane.

“The opposition will table an opposition report to coincide with the ANC’s own study group report to be tabled in Parliament after October 24,” he said.
Maimane said South Africa’s constitution was under threat.

“The opposition will not stand by while the constitution is being vandalised.”
He said the opposition needed to take “strong and deliberate steps”.

The committee was nothing more than an “ANC study group” and might as well conduct its meetings at African National Congress headquarters Luthuli House, rather than in Parliament, he said.

Maimane said the ANC would go to any length to protect Zuma from taking accountability for the R246m spent on his private Nkandla homestead in KwaZulu-Natal.

“All those who’ve been made scapegoats can come out and tell the truth.
“It will be a constitutional crisis if the ANC study group is allowed to ramp their report through Parliament.”

United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa, Congress of the People leader Mosiuoa Lekota, and Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema were also in attendance.

The opposition withdrew from the committee in protest at the ruling party’s refusal to enforce public protector Thuli Madonsela’s finding that Zuma should pay for part of the project.

Meanwhile, some political parties on Friday reacted to the relocation of a Nobel Peace laureates’ summit, and conflicting statements about the Dalai Lama’s visa application.

The DA Youth accused Zuma of betraying the principles of a free, just, and fair society by allegedly denying the Dalai Lama a visa to enter South Africa.
“He also betrayed youth leaders from across the globe,” chairperson Yusuf Cassim said in a statement.

He said a youth summit was due to take place parallel to the Nobel Peace laureates’ summit, which the Tibetan spiritual leader wanted to attend in Cape Town this month.

“It was going to be the first time that the youth summit was being held in Africa. Sadly, since it became evident that laureates were withdrawing, hundreds of young leaders from across the globe have decided not to come,” said Cassim.

“Should the youth summit still go ahead, it would only be attended by 128 students, while the summit is usually attended by about 400 participants.”
He said this highlighted the government’s lack of commitment to youth development.

“I would like to express my sincere apologies towards these young leaders, on behalf of our failing ANC government.”
Last month, 14 Nobel laureates wrote to Zuma asking that a South African travel visa be granted to the Dalai Lama after he failed to secure the document for the third time in five years.

On Thursday, AFP quoted the Dalai Lama as saying he was refused entry into the country.
“The Nobel Peace summit scheduled to be held in South Africa to honour the legacy of our fellow laureate, the late Nelson Mandela, has been cancelled as the South African government wouldn’t allow me to attend it,” the Dalai Lama said in a speech in the northern Indian town of Dharamshala.

“This is sort of bullying a simple person.”
The City of Cape Town said on Thursday the Nobel Peace laureates summit would be moved to another country. – Sapa