Opposition parties said that they would be instituting impeachment proceedings against President Jacob Zuma.
This, after the Constitutional Court found that President Zuma had breached the constitution when he failed to heed Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s report on non security improvements to his private residence.
Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng also ruled that he should reimburse the state an amount to be determined by National Treasury.
In a unanimous judgment Thursday Justice Mogoeng instructed treasury to determine an amount to be paid by President Zuma within 60 days for “luxuries” added to his Nkandla home and gave the president 45 days to then personally pay that amount.
“The treasury is instructed to determine the reasonable costs that are the visitor’s centre, the cattle kraal, amphitheatre and the chicken run and the swimming pool which ought to be paid personally by the president,” said Mogoeng.
Reacting to the Constitutional Court ruling both the Economic Freedom Fighters and the Democratic Alliance said they would be instituting impeachment proceedings in Parliament.
Addressing a media briefing, EFF leader Julius Malema, said they're calling on the ANC to "do the right thing and recall the President."
"Failure to do that we will go to Parliament and call for the impeachment of the President and in between now and impeachment the President will not speak in Parliament. We will stop him physically. We will push him because President Zuma is no longer the President of the Republic of South Africa," he said.
DA leader, Mmusi Maimaine, said "today's ruling is clear in this regard: President Jacob Zuma's action amounts to a serious violation of the Constitution, and constitutes grounds for impeachment."
"This pivotal judgment confirms the DA's long held contention that President Zuma seriously violated the Constitution when he sought to undermine the Public Protector's remedial actions by instituting parallel investigative processes, and his subsequent failure to implement her remedial action," Maimane said.
United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa said the ruling was a victory for democracy and called on the ruling ANC to remove Zuma from office.
“All that is left for President Jacob Zuma packs his bags and go because he has been given a red card,” said Holomisa.
Cope leader Mosiuoa Lekota said: “This judgement is a relief … it has saved our democracy. It has made it clear that it does not matter how much of a majority you have, because that majority is useless if it does not stand for the interests of the people of this country”.
Afriforum said "the only honourable option left to President Zuma is to relinquish his responsibilities as President of the Republic of South Africa and resign."
