South Africa's Malema files impeachment case against Zuma

South Africa’s firebrand political leader Julius Malema has filed an impeachment case against President Jacob Zuma at the country’s Constitutional Court on Thursday.

The leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Party filed the case over Zuma’s “conduct associated with the Nkandla scandal, including lying to Parliament on numerous occasions”, according to a statement from the party.

This application for conduct associated with the Nkandla scandal, including lying to Parliament on numerous occasions.

— EFF Official Account (@EFFSouthAfrica) March 30, 2017

“Tomorrow is exactly one year since the Concourt handed down its historic judgement in the EFF’s Nkandla application. Since then we have made numerous appeals and wrote several letters to the Speaker of Parliament. All have fallen on deaf ears and have been met with violence by Parliament on EFF MPs,” the statement added.

Malema says the Constitutional Court is the last resort to order the Speaker of parliament to institute impeachment proceedings against Zuma.

We approach ConCourt as last resort. Zuma's conduct around Nkandla matter renders him unfit to hold the high office of President of SA.

— EFF Official Account (@EFFSouthAfrica) March 30, 2017

“If the application is successful then Baleka Mbele will have no option but to put Zuma on trial so that he can answer directly to the people of South Africa,” it concluded.

If application is successful, Baleka Mbete will have no option but to put Zuma on trial so that he can answer directly to the people of SA.

— EFF Official Account (@EFFSouthAfrica) March 30, 2017

This is one of several attempts including protests to get Zuma to resign since the release of a high profile report by the former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela titled the “State of Capture”, that implicates president and some ministers in corrupt transactions.

President Zuma’s term as ANC president is set to end in 2017 and his term as the country’s president expires in 2019.

He has survived several parliamentary impeachment processes and survived a motion of no- confidence by his own party, the ANC.

Zuma has refunded more than 530,000 USD to the public treasury after the country’s constitutional court had in March last year ordered him to pay back the 16 million USD spent in upgrading his home.

CIC Julius_S_Malema addressing members of the media following the delivery of the Zuma Impeachment Application. #ZumaMustFaceImpeachment pic.twitter.com/U6dodAyd2e

— EFF Official Account (EFFSouthAfrica) March 30, 2017

#Malema: Some say Court can't order President to step down. True. But parliament can be instructed to do its job. #ZumaMustFaceImpeachment

— EFF Official Account (@EFFSouthAfrica) March 30, 2017

#Malema: We're not asking ANC MPs to vote with opposition but to vote out th President. They should rather abstain. #ZumaMustFaceImpeachment

— EFF Official Account (@EFFSouthAfrica) March 30, 2017

#Malema: Once Zuma announces removal of Pravin and Mcebisi, that will be the end of his journey as the president. #ZumaMustFaceImpeachment

— EFF Official Account (@EFFSouthAfrica) March 30, 2017