The Parliament in South Africa has voted not to impeach President Jacob Zuma, despite a court ruling against him as the ruling African National Congress (ANC) defeated the opposition’s motion.
The opposition described Mr Zuma as a”crooked” president and were adamant he was guilty of “serious misconduct” hence their attempts to have him impeached.
Last week, South Africa’s highest court ruled that Zuma had breached the South African constitution by failing to repay public money used to renovate his private home.
A vote was called in the lower house, the National Assembly amidst a rowdy section of the parliament and the motion was backed by 143 MPs and opposed by 233 falling short of the two-thirds majority (267 MPs out of 400) needed to impeach Mr Zuma who was not presetn at the proceedings.
Pool and amphitheatre
In 2014, South Africa’s anti-corruption watchdog Thuli Madonsela ordered Zuma to repay part of the money not related to security upgrades.
The court ruled that Mr Zuma had wrongly benefited from the building of a swimming pool, amphitheatre, cattle enclosure and chicken run.
The court ruled against Mr Zuma and also chided parliament for failing to hold Mr Zuma accountable.
In a televised address to the nation on Friday, Mr Zuma apologised for his role in controversy and promised to abide by the ruling.
He said that he had only acted “in good faith” and “never knowingly and deliberately set out to violate the constitution.”
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By citifmonline.com/Ghana