Zuma again delays Nkandla response

'President Jacob Zuma is still seized with preparing the report to the Speaker on the upgrades at his Nkandla home, as undertaken to the Speaker of the National Assembly,' spokesperson Mac Maharaj said. 'The President will submit his report as soon as possible after receiving all the necessary information required for the preparation of the report.' Parliament had been informed, he said. The now delayed Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report appears to be the reason why Zuma has so far failed to respond to Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's findings that he had derived undue benefit from the R246m security upgrade at his home in KZN, notes Legalbrief. Last month he said he was perusing the SIU's provisional findings and would respond within 30 working days - which expired earlier this week - but since then the SIU has given Parliament a vague explanation for the delays in putting together its final report and gave no indication when this might happen. Full report on the News24 site

It was untenable that more than three months after publication of the Nkandla report, Parliament still had no full explanation from the President, the head of the DA's federal executive, James Selfe, is quoted as saying in a report on the News24 site. Selfe said the delay was unacceptable, and the DA would urge Speaker Baleka Mbete to reject it and demand a swift response from the President. Zuma had undertaken to hand Mbete a comprehensive report on the outcome of three separate investigations into state spending of R246m on his private home by the end of Wednesday. Mbete must 'make it clear to the President that his submission is overdue and must come to Parliament immediately', he added. 'Should she fail to do so, she will be complicit in a cover-up to shield the President from accountability, and will undermine the integrity of this fifth Parliament. 'It is time for Parliament to flex its muscles and to make it clear that it will not be messed around for a day longer.' Full report on the News24 site

ANC parliamentary spokesperson Moloto Mothapo was more accommodating, saying the office of ANC Chief Whip Stone Sizani noted the President's latest correspondence to Parliament, and added: 'We appreciate that for the President to sufficiently and comprehensively report to Parliament, he has to pay due regard to all the relevant facts.' According to a report in The Mercury, the party was confident Zuma would, 'as per his commitment', finalise the report for Parliament to process the matter. Full report in The Mercury (subscription needed)

It is up to Mbete to enforce the Executive Members' Ethics Act, which stipulates a response to Public Protector reports is due within 14 days. According to a Beeld report, parliamentary spokesperson Luzuko Jacobs said it was a matter between the Speaker and President. Political analyst Ralph Mathekga is quoted as saying she won't do it. 'The former Speaker, Max Sisulu, wanted answers on Nkandla and look where he is now.' He added that Zuma and the ANC had used delaying tactics from the outset. The problem is that there is no legally set deadline for Zuma. 'The country will get an answer on Nkandla if the ANC feels like it.' Constitutional law professor Pierre de Vos, who was one of the complainants in the Public Protector investigation, said he was not surprised by the latest developments. 'It is not the Public Protector's fault. She is there to assist the government to do the right thing, but if they don't want to do the right thing, they won't accept help.' Full Beeld report