South Africa's Malema refuses Zuma's payout

South Africa’s opposition party has rejected President Jacob Zuma’s proposition to pay back state money used to refurbish his rural home.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) led by party leader Julius Malema, said they will not agree to any settlement unless he agrees to the party’s terms.

“He said he never asked for upgrades, he said he will never pay a cent, today he comes and says oh, I will pay. Because he thinks by agreeing to pay, he will buy time,” Malema said at a press conference.

“We told you Zuma would pay and some of you will start walking around saying we are prophets. We are no prophets. We know what we are doing. We are not playing, we do not make jokes. When we declare a war, we fight it to the bitter end. This is not the end. Zuma must go down. Zuma must leave the office of the president,” he added.

A hearing at the country’s constitutional court is set to take place next week after both the EFF and the Democratic Alliance (DA) parties took the matter directly to the court in November.

Despite, Zuma saying he will pay part of the money used upgrade his Nkandla home in KwaZulu-Natal province, both the DA and EFF have vowed to continue their arguments before the constitutional court.

‘‘The DA notes the settlement offer made by President Zuma but contends that the contents of his settlement offer do not comply with the remedial actions as ordered by the Public Protector in her report entitled Secure in Comfort,’‘ the DA said in a statement.

Earlier in the week, president Zuma said he would be willing to pay back an amount determined by auditor general Thembekile Kimi Makwetu and finance minister Pravin Gordhan.