Zuma acted in good faith – Free State ANC

Bloemfontein – The ANC in the Free State said it welcomed President Jacob Zuma's apology and believes he acted in good faith with regards to the Nkandla situation. 

"The PEC [provincial executive committee] welcomes the apology of the president of the ANC and of the republic... and accepts that [he] had acted in good faith and that there was no deliberate effort or intention to subvert the Constitution by the President," provincial secretary William Bulwane said during a meeting in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

He said Zuma's apology displayed the party's character of humility, respect and courage and its openness to accept criticism and practice self-criticism. 

"The PEC is convinced that President Jacob Zuma did not deliberately influence the upgrades at his private residence for personal gains. The PEC further confirms its unequivocal support for the president in his capacity as president of the ANC and as the president of the country." 

Zuma apologised to the nation on Friday after the Constitutional Court found that his failure to comply with the public protector's remedial action in her report on spending on his Nkandla homestead was a breach of the Constitution.

"The judgment has helped me and my colleagues to reflect deeply on the entire matter," Zuma said.

He said the judgment should help government to further build and strengthen democracy.

On Thursday the Constitutional Court ruled that the president should adhere to the remedial actions of the public protector and pay back taxpayers' funds which were used for non-security upgrades worth millions at his Nkandla home.

It found that Zuma's failure to comply with Thuli Madonsela's report was inconsistent with the Constitution and invalid.

Madonsela had found that, while the upgrades at Zuma's home were meant to be exclusively for security upgrades, millions more were spent on features such as an amphitheatre, a visitor's centre, a cattle kraal, chicken kraal and swimming pool.

The court further ruled that the National Assembly had violated the Constitution by ignoring the public protector's report. 

Since the ruling, opposition parties have called for Zuma to step down.

This article first appeared on News24 – see here.