20 days later: Zuma yet to reprimand Ministers

20 April 2016

President Zuma, in correspondence with me, has confirmed that he is yet to admonish the Ministers involved in the Nkandla scandal and cover-up, as he was ordered to do by the Constitutional Court almost three weeks ago. Rather, he has evaded the issue saying that the matter is still “receiving attention”. The Constitutional Court was clear – the President is bound by and must implement the Public Protector’s recommendations without delay.

I have replied to the President demanding that he provide a date by which he will comply with each and every remedial action the Public Protector stated in her report, which he is constitutionally bound to do. 

On 14 April 2016, I wrote to the Office of the President, requesting confirmation that – as per Advocate Thuli Madonsela’s report, Secure in Comfort - the Ministers implicated in the Nkandla scandal have been appropriately reprimanded, and if so, the terms of that reprimand, as well as when and where the same will be published.

I further requested that, in the event that the Ministers have not yet been reprimanded, an explanation be provided for the delay and that they be so reprimanded by no later than 16h00 on Monday 18 April 2016.

Predictably, the Presidency responded at the 11th hour, stating that the matters addressed are “receiving attention”, thus confirming that the Ministers implicated in the Nkandla scandal – including Nathi Nhleko and Thulas Nxesi - have in fact not been reprimanded.

Zuma is clearly dragging his feet in implementing the remedial action contained in the Public Protector’s report. He has violated the Constitution and shamed the highest office in the land, and should now act without any delay to abide by the Court's ruling.

Issued by Mabine Seabe, Spokesperson to the DA Leader, 20 April 2016