DA calls on ANC caucus to say sorry to SA over Nkandla

15 February 2016 - 12:35 By TMG Digital

The Democratic Alliance (DA) said the African National Congress (ANC) caucus in Parliament “should use this week's State of the Nation Address debate to apologise to South Africa at large”. The opposition’s chip whip in the National Assembly‚ John Steenhuisen‚ said: “Despite repeated objections by the DA‚ last year the ANC bull-headedly pushed through the adoption of Police Minister Nathi Nhleko’s report on the security upgrades at President (Jacob) Zuma’s private home at Nkandla.”But‚ Steenhuisen argued‚ during its Constitutional Court action against the president and others last week‚ “Zuma’s senior counsel conceded that‚ ‘the police minister has in a sense shot his bolt in making findings’ and agreed that the police minister’s report could not be relied upon”.He said the ruling party’s caucus are “reportedly reeling after having protected the president over the Constitution and him now turning his back on them by telling them and the country that‚ as we always maintained‚ it was incorrect for Parliament to adopt Nhleko’s report”.Steenhuisen also recalled how ANC MP Mathole Motshekga‚ in a meeting of the ad hoc committee on Nhleko’s report on Nkandla‚ displayed “his disdain for the Office of the Public Protector‚ saying that her findings are not binding or enforceable‚ and claiming that she misled the country and the whole world‚ tarnished Parliament’s image‚ the president’s and the country”.“Motshekga and the ANC caucus trampled on the Constitution when they placed the protection of President Zuma ahead of their Constitutional duty to assist and protect the Office of the Public Protector.“The ANC caucus should be ashamed and should use this week's State of the Nation Address debate to apologise to South Africa at large‚” said Steenhuisen...

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