President Jacob Zuma defied the constitution when he used $15 million in state funds to upgrade his private home, South Africa’s top court ruled Thursday.
“The constitution, rule of law and accountability is the sharp and mighty sword ready to chop off the ugly head of impunity,” the court said.
A crowd of opposition supporters rallied outside the court Tuesday, chanting and holding signs reading “Pay Back the Money.”
A March 2014 investigation by independent watchdog the Public Protector found that Zuma had spent 246 million rand or $15 million, renovating his home in Nkandla, located about 150 miles north of the city of Durban, in 2009 shortly after he was sworn into office. The upgrades include a swimming pool, cattle kraal, chicken run, visitors center and amphitheater.
The Public Protector asked Zuma to pay “a reasonable percentage of the cost” for upgrades not related to security, which would be determined by the National Treasury.
Zuma never repaid, saying the findings were merely recommendations and not legal court orders. A police inquiry into his house cleared him of wrongdoing, saying the upgrades were made for security reasons.
Nene’s firing came after the National Treasury refused to approve several controversial deals and was interpreted as the President’s inclination to remove anyone who stands in his way.
Repayment offer rejected
Last week Zuma did an about face and offered to repay some of the amount but opposition parties have pressed forward with their cases.
“Zuma must go down. Zuma must leave the office of the President,” said Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters, one of the parties that took him to court. “The President, the executive, has failed. The parliament has failed.”
Zuma, the country’s fourth president, was sworn in for a second term last May.
He spent most of his life in Nkandla, which is about 150 miles (240 kilometers) north of Durban
Complaints about the renovations go as far back as 2009, according to the Public Protector’s report.
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CNN’s David McKenzie contributed to this report.