/ 20 March 2014

Opposition parties lay criminal charges against Zuma

President Jacob Zuma faces criminal charges filed by EFF leader Julius Malema.
President Jacob Zuma faces criminal charges filed by EFF leader Julius Malema.

President Jacob Zuma should resign within 20 days, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema said on Thursday.

"Zuma should step down. If he fails to do so within 20 days, the EFF will march to the Union Buildings … and we will not leave the premises until he resigns," Malema told supporters outside the Sunnyside police station in Pretoria.

He said he had laid charges of corruption, theft, fraud and racketeering against Zuma with the Sunnyside police.

This was prompted by the release on Wednesday of public protector Thuli Madonsela's final report on the upgrades to Zuma's private Nkandla homestead in KwaZulu-Natal.

In her report, Madonsela found Zuma that had "unduly benefited from the enormous capital investment" in the Nkandla upgrades, which cost R246-million.

Malema said the charges were laid against Zuma, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa and architect Minenhle Makhanya, among others.

Racketeering
Madonsela found that Makhanya had made R16.5-million as Zuma's architect and as the public works department's principal agent for the Nkandla project.

Malema said the racketeering charge was added "because Zuma operated with criminals".

"Let me help the police here … Zuma does not allow electronic transfers, I have worked with him. He doesn't take cheques either."

He said Zuma should be charged following Madonsela's report and be arrested, and his children should also be investigated and a lifestyle audit conducted.

"He has a son who collects the cash for him. All his children must be investigated," Malema told cheering supporters.

He accused the ANC of arrogance, and said it had been protecting one man since 2005.

"They are arrogant and have become a law unto themselves. The police should show that no one is above the law."

Double whammy
The Democratic Alliance national spokesperson Mmusi Maimane also laid a charge of corruption against President Jacob Zuma on Thursday.

Maimane said he did so at the Nkandla police station near the president's private homestead.

"Criminal charges have been laid against President Jacob Zuma at the scene of the crime in Nkandla," said Maimane.

"There can be no doubt that this Nkandla palace was built on corruption by the president for the president with our money."

Comment from the police could not be immediately obtained. – Sapa