Last week, Zuma wrote to Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi, former police minister Nathi Mthethwa and former public works minister Geoff Doidge to reprimand them for their handling of the upgrades to his Nkandla homestead.

DA Chief Whip John Steenhuisen called for Parliament to reject the letters.

“The DA has forwarded these letters to our legal team, and has asked them to advise us on whether they constitute an adequate reprimand as envisioned by the Public Protector. However, it is our belief that Parliament is now the correct body to scrutinise these letters and, ultimately, to reject them as unacceptable,” he said.

The DA would forward a copy of each letter to the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests. It would ask that they be considered as supporting evidence for the various complaints lodged against the ministers following the Constitutional Court’s March 31 judgment.

In addition, the party would ask the Powers and Privileges Committee to investigate the ministers for misconduct. If found guilty, they could face a fine or suspension.

The court ruled that Zuma had violated the Constitution when he disregarded Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s remedial action that he repay some of the R246m spent on so-called security upgrades to his private Nkandla homestead. She also recommended that Zuma reprimand the ministers involved.

The court ruled that the Public Protector’s findings were binding and could only be challenged by way of a judicial review.

News24