Ramaphosa welcomes Zuma apology

He delivered the closing remarks at the two-day Mpumalanga Alliance Summit, where the ruling party, SACP, Cosatu and SANCO emerged with what they called a renewed undertaking to forge unity in the alliance ahead of the local government elections later this year, Lowvelder reported.

“We agree with the president that this matter was beginning to sow confusion and frustration amongst our people.

“[We] appreciate the leadership displayed by the national officials of the ANC in the handling of the Constitutional Court outcomes.

“We welcome the timely response and humble apology and recommitment to implementation of the Public Protector’s recommendations by the president,” Ramaphosa said.

Thursday’s Constitutional Court ruling found that Zuma had breached the Constitution by failing to comply with Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s 2014 report on upgrades at his home in Nkandla, and should reimburse the state an amount to be determined by National Treasury.

In an address to the nation on Friday evening, Zuma agreed to pay back the money spent on the Nkandla upgrades.

“I respected the judgment and will abide by it,” Zuma said.

“I have consistently stated that I would pay an amount towards the Nkandla non security upgrades once this had been determined by the correct authority,” he said.

– Caxton News Service