PARLIAMENT, February 11 (ANA) – Public Protector Thuli Madonsela on Thursday confirmed that she had had a private meeting with President Jacob Zuma ahead of the Constitutional Court hearings this week in which he has conceded that her findings have binding force.
Speaking on the red carpet, ahead of Zuma’s ninth state of the nation address, Madonsela confirmed under urging from reporters: “We had a meeting. It was a private meeting.”
She declined to give further details and downplayed her wrangle with Zuma over his long-standing refusal to repay the state for luxuries added to his private home at taxpayer’s expense. Zuma last week reversed his stance, and his lawyers on Tuesday confirmed in court that he was prepared to refund the state.
“It was not a clash, we helped each other to understand and embrace the constitution,” Madonsela said as photographers snapped away at her striking daffodil yellow dress with a full skirt and train.
She said she felt vindicated after the Supreme Court of Appeal found last year that organs of state were obliged to implement her findings, and could not supplant these with recommendations coming out of other probes.
Madonsela insisted that she did not believe there had ever been bad faith between herself and Zuma.
“It was still underpinned by good faith, he had a particular view, I had a view and now we have the same view,” she said.
The Constitutional Court has reserved judgment in the case.
– African News Agency (ANA)
