Zuma denies graft claims in book

PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma dismissed claims in Parliament that he was paid a salary of R1 million a month, for four years, by a company owned by businessman Roy Moodley when he began his presidency in 2009.

Yesterday, in a marathon question and answer session punctuated by insults across the benches, Zuma said reports that he received payments from Moodley were untrue.

Deputy Speaker Lechesa Tsenoli said he would look into the conduct of the DA MPs, after an especially rowdy session.

But IFP chief whip Narend Singh also asked Tsenoli to investigate Zuma for failing to tell them how much he had spent on legal fees

he DA has said in the past that Zuma has spent more than R10m in court defending its challenge of the National Prosecuting Authority’s decision to drop charges against him in 2009.

But Zuma refused to say how much he had spent, and said the records were with the state attorney.

He denied reports published in a book by journalist, Jacques Pauw, that he was paid by Moodley.

“I have given a categorical answer to the question. There are many books that have talked about Jacob Zuma, it’s speculation… My job is not to answer books,” he said.

He said he did not know why people made allegations against him.

Zuma said the speculation was because he was leading the ANC.

“I can’t tell you exactly, except my speculation is that Zuma leads the biggest party that has won the elections and they are trying to undermine the ANC,” he said.

Zuma also defended Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini over the Sassa and SA Post Office grants payment stand-off.

He said he would not fire Dlamini, despite mounting pressure for him to do so.

He confirmed that he had been chairing the interministerial committee on social development and the grants issue was dealt with.

“Right now, I have spoken to the minister of finance (Malusi Gigaba). The minister of finance is meeting both departments to solve the problem, because it has to be solved.

“I have chaired it (the committee). I am aware of (the problem),” he told Parliament.

He said he would not fire Dlamini because she has to implement the Constitutional Court judgment.

“You say Bathabile is not a problem of apartheid, she is a problem of what?” he asked DA leader Mmusi Maimane.

Maimane and members of the DA walked out of the National Assembly.

Outside the chamber, an angry Maimane said: “It’s evasion of accountability and undermining of the constitution, we can’t sit and entertain it.”