The question “When is the president going to pay back the money?” was again raised by the EFF, this time sneakily introduced at a questions session with President Jacob Zuma in Parliament’s NCOP on Thursday afternoon.
After Zuma had answered a question on youth development, EFF MP Vusiwana Mtileni raised a point of privilege, which NCOP chairperson Thandi Modise granted.
“During question time in the National Assembly, the president of this country was very passionate with a broad smile and even cracking jokes,” Mtileni said.
At this, Zuma, dressed in a light grey suit and blue tie, could be seen giving a small smile from his seat.
“Today we still want to know from the president as the head of this country: does he have any intention leading by example... to maybe respond to the recommendation of the public protector?”
“What was recommended by the public protector was that the president was unduly benefiting from Nkandla.”
Members of the NCOP jeered at the EFF member in his red overalls.
Last year, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela found Zuma had derived undue benefit from R246m in improvements made to his Nkandla homestead in KwaZulu-Natal. She recommended that he pay back a portion of the money.
Modise said Mtileni had raised the point of privilege in terms of rule 81, which meant an urgent motion directly concerning the privileges of the council took precedence over other motions and orders of the day.
She said she was trying to understand the urgent motion he was bringing that concerned the privileges of the house.
Raising the rules book, Mtileni said it allowed him to ask any question as a matter of precedent.
Modise reminded him that they had taken workshops to read the rules together and interpret them the same way.
She warned him to get to the point because he was wasting time.
The house jeered as Mtileni made a motion that Zuma return to the next sitting of the NCOP to answer his question.
Zuma’s appearance in the NCOP was for oral reply on six written questions raised by MPs.
News24 - http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/When-will-you-pay-back-the-money-Zuma-hears-again-20150514
After Zuma had answered a question on youth development, EFF MP Vusiwana Mtileni raised a point of privilege, which NCOP chairperson Thandi Modise granted.
“During question time in the National Assembly, the president of this country was very passionate with a broad smile and even cracking jokes,” Mtileni said.
At this, Zuma, dressed in a light grey suit and blue tie, could be seen giving a small smile from his seat.
“Today we still want to know from the president as the head of this country: does he have any intention leading by example... to maybe respond to the recommendation of the public protector?”
“What was recommended by the public protector was that the president was unduly benefiting from Nkandla.”
Members of the NCOP jeered at the EFF member in his red overalls.
Last year, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela found Zuma had derived undue benefit from R246m in improvements made to his Nkandla homestead in KwaZulu-Natal. She recommended that he pay back a portion of the money.
Modise said Mtileni had raised the point of privilege in terms of rule 81, which meant an urgent motion directly concerning the privileges of the council took precedence over other motions and orders of the day.
She said she was trying to understand the urgent motion he was bringing that concerned the privileges of the house.
Raising the rules book, Mtileni said it allowed him to ask any question as a matter of precedent.
Modise reminded him that they had taken workshops to read the rules together and interpret them the same way.
She warned him to get to the point because he was wasting time.
The house jeered as Mtileni made a motion that Zuma return to the next sitting of the NCOP to answer his question.
Zuma’s appearance in the NCOP was for oral reply on six written questions raised by MPs.
News24 - http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/When-will-you-pay-back-the-money-Zuma-hears-again-20150514
