South African President to Take Anti-Corruption Watchdog to Court
Jacob Zuma Has Been Accused of Overlooking $23 Million in State Misspending on Private Home
By PATRICK MCGROARTY CONNECT
May 15, 2014 10:54 a.m. ET
JOHANNESBURG—South Africa's government on Thursday said it would file a court case against the anticorruption watchdog, which has accused President Jacob Zuma of overlooking $23 million in state misspending at his private home.
Members of Mr. Zuma's cabinet said in a statement Thursday that the report released by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela in March is "irrational, contradictory and...informed by material errors of law."
They said they would ask for a "judicial review" by South Africa's High Court of their assertion that Ms. Madonsela's report violated a constitutional separation-of-powers clause.
Kgalalelo Masibi, Ms. Madonsela's spokeswoman, said the government's move was premature because a parliamentary committee hasn't decided how to address her recommendation that Mr. Zuma repay a portion of the unsanctioned construction costs.
Ms. Madonsela's March report concluded that the 72-year-old president had "unduly benefited" from additions to his rural homestead including a swimming pool and cattle pen.
Ahead of national elections last week, the allegations became a rallying cry for South Africa's fragmented opposition parties and turned many young voters against Mr. Zuma's African National Congress.
But the ANC still won by a wide margin, finishing with 62% of the vote. That was down slightly from the 65.9% the party won in 2009 but broadly in line with its showing in the five elections since Nelson Mandela won South Africa's first free vote in 1994.
Mr. Zuma said last week that state construction at his compound of thatched huts in his native KwaZulu-Natal province was justified because criminals had previously set fire to the compound and raped his wife there.
He is due to be inaugurated for a second five-year term on May 24.
Write to Patrick McGroarty at patrick.mcgroarty@wsj.com
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| South African President Jacob Zuma won re-election. |
By PATRICK MCGROARTY CONNECT
May 15, 2014 10:54 a.m. ET
JOHANNESBURG—South Africa's government on Thursday said it would file a court case against the anticorruption watchdog, which has accused President Jacob Zuma of overlooking $23 million in state misspending at his private home.
Members of Mr. Zuma's cabinet said in a statement Thursday that the report released by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela in March is "irrational, contradictory and...informed by material errors of law."
They said they would ask for a "judicial review" by South Africa's High Court of their assertion that Ms. Madonsela's report violated a constitutional separation-of-powers clause.
Kgalalelo Masibi, Ms. Madonsela's spokeswoman, said the government's move was premature because a parliamentary committee hasn't decided how to address her recommendation that Mr. Zuma repay a portion of the unsanctioned construction costs.
Ms. Madonsela's March report concluded that the 72-year-old president had "unduly benefited" from additions to his rural homestead including a swimming pool and cattle pen.
Ahead of national elections last week, the allegations became a rallying cry for South Africa's fragmented opposition parties and turned many young voters against Mr. Zuma's African National Congress.
But the ANC still won by a wide margin, finishing with 62% of the vote. That was down slightly from the 65.9% the party won in 2009 but broadly in line with its showing in the five elections since Nelson Mandela won South Africa's first free vote in 1994.
Mr. Zuma said last week that state construction at his compound of thatched huts in his native KwaZulu-Natal province was justified because criminals had previously set fire to the compound and raped his wife there.
He is due to be inaugurated for a second five-year term on May 24.
Write to Patrick McGroarty at patrick.mcgroarty@wsj.com
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