Share

Zuma backers must help needy - IFP

Johannesburg - President Jacob Zuma's backers should rather donate money to the needy than attempt to bail him out, the IFP said on Monday.

"President Zuma is not poor, he can afford to pay his debt," IFP secretary general Sibongile Nkomo said in a statement.

"With his monthly salary, he can afford to pay all his debt without any bail-out."

She said Zuma could not accept an offer to pay back the money spent on his Nkandla homestead, as this would mean he acknowledged that it constituted unlawful spending of public funds.

The Sunday Times reported that KwaZulu-Natal tycoon Philani Mavundla had offered to raise funds and settle Zuma's Nkandla "debt".

Nkomo said Zuma's so-called backers would be wasting their money.

"There are many people in our country who are in desperate need of food and shelter, therefore these so-called good Samaritans should divert their goodwill to help those in need, as they are the ones who deserve assistance."

In March, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela found that Zuma had derived undue benefit from the upgrades and recommended that he pay back a portion of the money.

Zuma declined to do so, and instead waited for the outcome of another investigation by the Special Investigating Unit.

The SIU blamed Zuma's architect Minenhle Makhanya for inflating the costs of the Nkandla project, and filed a civil claim against him for R155m in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg on 11 August.

Makhanya has hired high-profile lawyers to contest the case.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you think corruption-accused National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will survive a motion of no confidence against her?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
No, her days are numbered
39% - 110 votes
Yes, the ANC caucus will protect her
61% - 170 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
19.05
-0.8%
Rand - Pound
24.04
-0.6%
Rand - Euro
20.55
-0.4%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.37
-0.2%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.7%
Platinum
901.20
+0.5%
Palladium
997.97
-0.4%
Gold
2,206.11
+0.5%
Silver
24.64
-0.0%
Brent Crude
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
68,067
+0.6%
All Share
74,267
+0.5%
Resource 10
56,746
+2.0%
Industrial 25
103,647
+0.4%
Financial 15
16,482
-0.3%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE