ANC uses majority to protect Zuma
Buti Manamela says it's not in the ANC's interests for Zuma to remain implicated in the Nkandla scandal.
CAPE TOWN - ANC Member of Parliament (MP) Buti Manamela said it's not in the ANC's interests that President Jacob Zuma remains implicated in the Nkandla scandal.
Manamela said Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's report and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU)'s probe won't disappear.
"It's not in our interests that as the ruling party that a person who we nominated as the president of the country is implicated so it's not in anybody's interest."
But the Democratic Alliance (DA)'s James Selfe said the ANC wants to shield Zuma from scrutiny ahead of the polls next week.
"If there was the political will to do what needs to be done we could do it, but it's clear there's no political will to grapple with the real issues and to get to what needs to be done."
Zuma won't be facing Parliamentary questions about the expensive upgrades to his Nkandla home for now.
The ANC used its majority to halt any scrutiny of the president's role in the spending scandal ahead of the elections.
The ad-hoc committee set up to consider Zuma's response to Madonsela's findings on the R246 million improvements to his private home was effectively dissolved yesterday.
Too little time, the looming elections and the SIU's continuing probe, were the reasons given by ANC deputy chief whip Doris Dlakude when she put the motion.
"The ANC proposes that this matter be referred to the incoming fifth Parliament for consideration."
The DA's Lindiwe Mazibuko accused the ruling party of shielding the president from scrutiny ahead of next month's polls.
"I believe that kicking for touch isn't a recommendation, but its dodging responsibility."
It will be up to whoever will be elected speaker of the new Parliament to decide how to take the matter forward.
Meanwhile, Zuma has publicly stated that he never asked for the upgrades and said he would not pay back any funds.
Manamela insists the ANC views the findings against Zuma as an important matter. ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe during a press briefing about the Nkandla report. Picture: Sebabatso Mosamo/EWN.
But he argued that there was too little time before Parliament dissolves at midnight on 6 May for the committee to properly consider the president's response to the damning report.
To read Madonsela's full report click here.
