Zuma ignored ANC advice on Nkandla – Mantashe

President Jacob Zuma has angered senior figures in the ANC after ignoring advice from its national executive committee to take the Public Protector's Nkandla report on judicial review, says a Sunday Times report. According to the report, it has emerged for the first time that Zuma also ignored advice from party structures and senior leaders as far back as two years ago to pay back a portion of the R246m spent on his Nkandla home. ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe reportedly told the paper the NEC had in 2014 – just before the general elections – advised Zuma to take Thuli Madonsela's Secure in Comfort report to court for review. But Zuma instead assigned Police Minister Nathi Nhleko to compile his discredited report that concluded that the President was not liable for any money spent at his private home. 'It was the NEC that made that decision (to take Madonsela's report for review),' Mantashe is quoted as saying. Party spokesperson Zizi Kodwa reportedly said the NEC had also advised that the inter-ministerial task team report on Nkandla be taken on review. '(Madonsela and the inter-ministerial task team) made reports which were almost the same in content but with different determinations. We made the decision as the ANC to take both reports on review. That advice was not followed,' said Kodwa. The Sunday Times says it understands that in 2014, just after Madonsela released her report, Zuma was advised by his legal team not to take the report for judicial review because a court finding affirming the findings would be disastrous for him. A well-placed source reportedly told the newspaper the advice was that such a finding would be grounds for impeachment. An ANC MP said it would be difficult to defend Zuma should the opposition push for his impeachment. 'He (Zuma) might see this as a victory today, but there are far-reaching consequences. I don't know how the Speaker will avoid setting up an inquiry into the fitness of the President to hold office.'

Full Sunday Times report