Zuma faces impeachment as court rules he violates Constitution

South Africa’s highest court ruled on Thursday that President Jacob Zuma violated the Constitution by not paying the money he spent upgrading his private home as recommended by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela.

The judgment was handed down by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng at the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg.

“The president thus failed to uphold, defend and respect the constitution as the supreme law of the land,” Mogoeng announced.

Over 246 million rand (16 million U.S. dollars) was allegedly spent to upgrade Zuma’s private home in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal Province.

Mogoeng stated that the Treasury should determine the money used in “non-security” upgrades, which must be personally paid by the president.

South Africa’s public watchdog had investigated and ruled Zuma should repay some of the money. But he ignored its instructions and the court has found that in doing so, Zuma violated the Constitution.

“The institution of the Public Protector is pivotal to the facilitation of good governance in our Constitutional dispensation,” Mogoeng said in the ruling.

The Court also stated that the country’s National Assembly violated the Constitution by absolving the President on the Nkandla issue.

The deputy Public Protector Kelvin Malunga told journalists that they are vindicated by the judgment and welcomed it.

“This is a great day for the Public Protector as an institution, but it is a great day for South Africa. This has not been about personalities. It has been about the principles of accountability, about the rule of law,” he said.

The chief opposition party of the Democratic Alliance (DA) brought the application to the Constitutional Court. It is now seeking Zuma’s removal.

“We’ve already filed a motion with the speakers to say Zuma must be impeached because he’s unfit and it’s quite clear that the Constitutional judgment really vindicates our position,” said Mmusi Maimane, DA leader.

Impeachment would require a two-thirds majority in a Parliament dominated by Zuma’s party, the African National Congress (ANC).

The ANC says it has always maintained that it will abide by the judgment and that it will treat the matter with the urgency it deserves. Meanwhile, the government said Zuma respects the judgment.