Thuli Praised as President Zuma Accepts Public Protector’s Findings are Binding
Through his lawyer Jeremy Gauntlett, President Zuma conceded Tuesday that the Public Protector’s findings into security upgrades at his Nkandla homestead were in fact binding. He accepted that the recommendations constitute administrative action and, as there was no judicial review, the South African president is bound by the recommendations as a matter of administrative justice. Public Protector Thuli Madonsela said […]
Through his lawyer Jeremy Gauntlett, President Zuma conceded Tuesday that the Public Protector’s findings into security upgrades at his Nkandla homestead were in fact binding.
He accepted that the recommendations constitute administrative action and, as there was no judicial review, the South African president is bound by the recommendations as a matter of administrative justice.
Public Protector Thuli Madonsela said she is happy with the Constitutional Court hearings. Judging in the #ConCourt hearing has been reserved. Watch video here:
South Africans took to social media to thank Madonsela for “standing up for us” and being South Africa’s “bravest woman”.
Former University of Cape Town vice-chancellor and principal Prof. Njabulo Ndebele said: “Congratulations, Public Protector, on your clear-minded and principled resilience! Your practice has been vindicated and has become a beacon for all public institutions in our constitutional democracy.”
Facebook page Hands Off our Public Protector said: “CONGRATULATIONS THULI!!!!! You stuck to your guns, and you have been vindicated. You are a great South African heroine!!!!”
Political analyst and author Eusebius McKaiser summed up today’s hearings as “a good day for constitutional supremacy, but we cannot be complacent.”
In a summary of today’s events McKaiser said “President Zuma threw the minister of police under the Gautrain” and that while Nathi Nhleko had been willing to stand “sweating profusely at press conferences on behalf of the president while inventing new gibberish like ‘firepool'”, Zuma now made the minister “look like a fool”, with Gauntlett making it clear that Madonsela’s report could not be subverted by that of the police minister.
Gauntlett asked the court to not declare that Zuma acted “unconstitutionally” as that would be the basis for an impeachment, and said the president is ready to be directed by the court as to how much should be paid.
Meanwhile, the president met yesterday with major investors to the South African economy and CEOs of large companies in Cape Town to discuss ways in which government and the business sector can work together to bring about the growth of the economy and to create jobs.