PARLIAMENT, September 13 (ANA) – President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday cried foul over the conduct of MPs in the National Assembly, insisting they were abusing him, and asking Speaker Baleka Mbete to do something about it.
“Each time when I come here I am abused by members of your Parliament. Instead of answering questions, I sit here being called a criminal, a thief,†a clearly irritated Zuma said at the end of his quarterly question-and-answer session, which again saw him come under fire from opposition parties, with the Economic Freedom Fighters staging a walkout after objecting to being addressed by a “criminalâ€.
“Your House must do something. If this House is not interested in me answering questions, then say so, then don’t call me.â€
Since being reelected as president in 2014, Zuma has consistently seen his question-and-answer sessions interrupted by the Economic Freedom Fighters and other opposition parties, who insist the president is being increasingly compromised by his relationship with the Gupta family who have allegedly benefitted from multi-billion rand state contracts.
The EFF on Tuesday called on Mbete to take disciplinary action against the president for violating the Constitution when he failed to heed the directive of public protector Thuli Madonsela to pay back a portion of the money used to upgrade his Nkandla residence. On Monday, both the presidency and treasury confirmed Zuma reimbursed taxpayers to the tune of R7.8 million.
Meanwhile, Zuma denied tensions between the National Treasury and his office.
“There is no war between the presidency and treasury,†Zuma said before embarking on his signature giggle.
Zuma distanced himself from remarks by his deputy Cyril Ramaphosa last week, warning against the dangers of a government at war with itself.
“Earlier I said I don’t know any war within government. I’m saying, you ask Ramaphosa. I am saying there is no war within government and that is a clear answer.â€
Zuma again dismissed reports that have dogged his office that he was in a battle with Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan over control of the treasury. He further insinuated that Ramaphosa’s comments at the National Econonmic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) annual summit was incorrect.
“Whatever perceptions people might have and perceptions are perceptions. If there are people who make statements about whatever, if those statements are wrong, we deal with the matter. â€
The president said he was currently in discussions with Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane, who drew the ire of the presidency, the ruling party and its alliance partners, among others, when he issued a statement almost two weeks ago recommending that Zuma should institute a judicial inquiry into allegations that banks acted “unilaterally and allegedly in collusion†when they closed the banks accounts linked to the Gupta family and broke ties with Oakbay Investments.
The presidency later issued a statement saying Zwane did not speak for Cabinet, saying his comments were made in his personal capacity.
“I’ve started discussing the matter with him,†said Zuma on Tuesday, adding that MPs should not “balloon†the issue.
– African News Agency (ANA)
