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Parly not rubber stamp for corruption: EFF

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Parliament is being used to condone corruption, the EFF said on Thursday.

“We warn the Speaker and the presidency that Parliament is not a rubber stamp for their corrupt and immoral practices,” the Economic Freedom Fighters said in a statement.

“Corruption is institutionalised from the top and Parliament is used as a rubber stamp thereof. We cannot allow this to continue.”

The party was responding to National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete’s announcement on Wednesday that Zuma would be in Parliament to answer questions on March 11. His last question session was in August.

Zuma should be held accountable and repay some of the R246 million spent on security upgrades at his private Nkandla residence as Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s report on the expenditure had recommended, the party said.

Opposition parties have accused Zuma of trying to avoid answering questions in Parliament. On August 21, EFF MPs interrupted Zuma’s replies to questions by banging on their desks and chanting “pay back the money”. Since then he has not returned to answer questions.

“We will be persistent and fearless in chasing the truth. We must also add that we do not trust that the president will be genuine in answering questions on the set 11 March date.”

The EFF believed that if tough questions were asked of Zuma, Mbete would intervene.

“As it has been abundantly clear over the past few years, the ruling party will do anything in their power to avoid taking responsibility on the

Nkandla matter which in our view goes to the heart of corruption in state institutions.

“We cannot be fooled by these delaying tactics anymore. The question must be answered and it must be answered now,” the EFF said.

EFF leader Julius Malema said on Wednesday he would not wait until March 11 to ask Zuma questions about Nkandla.

“We have an appointment with him on the 12th of February and he is going to answer questions,” Malema said, referring to the date of the state of the nation address.

On Monday the SABC quoted Zuma denying he had refused to answer questions in Parliament.

“The president has never refused to come to answer questions,” he told the public broadcaster.

“I have been hearing those kinds of sloganeering out there. Nobody has said I must come to Parliament [and] I refused.”

Zuma is expected to answer questions in Parliament every quarter. SAPA


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