'Zuma deserves to rot in jail'
Julius Malema says Jacob Zuma deserves to rot in jail for lying to Parliament and stealing from the public
PRETORIA - Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema said President Jacob Zuma should "rot in jail" for lying to Parliament and stealing from state coffers.
Malema was responding to the findings in Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's report into upgrades at Zuma's Nkandla residence.
Madonsela released the long-awaited report on Wednesday afternoon, finding that Zuma and his family benefitted from the upgrades and called on the president to account to Parliament within two weeks.
Madonsela releases the findings about Nkandla during a press conference in Pretoria on 19 March 2014. Picture: Sebabatso Mosamo/EWN.
She said government failed to exercise power within the law and in the public interest
Malema made the comments while addressing several hundred supporters outside the Sunnyside police station on Thursday.
CRIMINAL CHARGES
The former ANC Youth League leader who helped push Zuma to power at the party's conference in Polokwane in 2007, opened a criminal case against the president at the station.
The case includes charges of fraud, corruption, theft of public money and racketeering.
Malema said the Public Protector's findings against the president warranted a full criminal investigation.
"We want police to get to the bottom of the matter and hold everybody accountable. They must lock him up. Zuma deserves to rot in jail. He doesn't deserve to live amongst us."
Malema said if Zuma doesn't resign within 20 days, the party will march to the Union Buildings and remain there until the president steps down.
"If there is anyone who wants to kill us for protecting the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, we are prepared to die."
DA CALLS FOR IMPEACHMENT
The Democratic Alliance (DA)'s Mmusi Maimane said the sight of the Nkandla residence leaves people distraught.
President Jacob Zuma's Nkandla homestead in KwaZulu-Natal. Picture: City Press.
On Thursday, Maimane also laid corruption charges against Zuma at the Nkandla police station.
At the same time, he called on South Africans to sign the DA's "impeach Zuma" petition and write to their local MPs to support the proposal.
The party's Parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko led the call for impeachment yesterday, writing, "This is an unprecedented abuse of public funds by a sitting president and deserves the highest democratic sanction".
Click here to view the full Nkandla report.
