Image Credit: theguardian.com
Jacob Zuma, South Africa’s President has profusely apologised for breaking the law and the country’s constitution.
His apology is coming on the heels of a ruling by the South African Constitutional, court that he broke the law for refusing to refund public funds he used to refurbish his Nkandla country home, in KwaZulu-Natal province. Estimated at NGN4.5 billion ($23 million), Zuma was accused of lavishing the money on his personal property and refusing to reimburse it to the coffers.
In his words “The matter has caused a lot of frustration and confusion, for which I apologise…I respect the judgement and will abide by it.” Zuma has been embroiled in two major scandals. The second was his links with the Guptas, a wealthy family in South Africa. He has gotten a vote of confidence from the Africa National Congress, ANC, but his refusal to refund the money could have emboldened his opponents to press forward with impeachment charges against him.
Battling two major opposition parties, the Economic Freedom Fighters, EFF and the Democratic Alliance , DA, his apology might douse the fire by bringing his party leaders behind him.
