DA puts pressure on Sisulu over Nkandla

CAPE TOWN - Pressure is mounting on National Assembly Speaker Max Sisulu to decide on a special committee of Parliament to investigate Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's findings on the Nkandla affair.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Tuesday said there's prima facie (at first sight) evidence in the document that justifies a full investigation.

The public protector's damning report, which was released on 19 March, found the president unduly benefitted from some upgrades to his private KwaZulu-Natal home.

Madonsela also found Zuma violated the executive ethics code and ordered him to pay back a portion of the money spent.

The DA last month submitted a motion calling for Zuma's removal as president under section 89 of the Constitution.

The party also asked Sisulu to set up a committee to investigate.

"In response to his correspondence with me on 25 March, I immediately sent him a further letter requesting an update on my request for an urgent meeting as well as a clear time frame for when this decision will be made," DA Parliamentary Leader Lindiwe Mazibuko said.

"He has yet to respond."

Mazibuko says Sisulu has a "constitutional duty" to launch a Parliamentary probe into whether or not Zuma misled Parliament and deserved to be impeached.

"It's not about him weighing up the pros and cons and deciding whether to proceed. He actually has an obligation under the Constitution to proceed with this matter. It's really only a question of when," she said.

Zuma has until Wednesday to respond to Madonsela's report in Parliament.

All indications are that this is likely to be done on paper, as Parliament is in recess and a special sitting would have to be called.

At the same time, Madonsela is hesitant to respond to reports that Zuma won't pay a portion of the Nkandla costs.

She says it's because she has not received a formal response from him.

At least R246 million worth of upgrades were made to the Nkandla home.

Some of the upgrades included a cattle kraal and a swimming pool.

Meanwhile, Cosatu Western Cape Secretary Tony Ehrenreich says his call for Zuma to respond was made in his personal capacity.

He posted his thoughts on the debacle on his Facebook page this week.

Ehrenreich says as head of government and the ANC, Zuma has a political and moral responsibility to give the public a serious reply.

"There are too many irregularities. The president needs to take us in his confidence and explain to us what's going to be done on this matter."

Over the weekend, Zuma spoke about Madonsela's findings for the first time since its release.

He said he did nothing wrong and wouldn't pay back any money as stipulated.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan says those who broke the law must face the consequences.

The minister was speaking about tax collection but answered a question on the Nkandla scandal, saying Zuma still had time to respond to Madonsela's report.

Gordhan says those who broke the law must face the consequences.

Video: Nkandla explained