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South African court orders impeachment rules for Zuma

By Susan McFarland
A South Africa court ruled Friday that lawmakers failed to hold President Jacob Zuma accountable for a funding scandal and must set out rules for impeachment. File Photo by Peter Foley/UPI
A South Africa court ruled Friday that lawmakers failed to hold President Jacob Zuma accountable for a funding scandal and must set out rules for impeachment. File Photo by Peter Foley/UPI | License Photo

Dec. 29 (UPI) -- South Africa's top court ruled Friday that lawmakers failed to hold President Jacob Zuma accountable in a funding scandal, and must now set out rules for impeachment proceedings.

As Judge Chris Jafta handed down the ruling, he said the court found the legislative assembly "did not hold the president to account" and must "put in place a mechanism that could be used for the removal of the president from office."

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It is unclear if the ruling will lead to the impeachment of Zuma, who's accused of using $15 million in state funds to upgrade his home. In March 2016, the court ordered him to pay back some of the money. He has since repaid about $631,000.

Zuma has faced widespread public demands for his resignation amid other scandals, which include accusations and court proceedings for hundreds of counts of corruption, fraud, racketeering and money laundering.

Zuma, 75, has denied any wrongdoing. He will remain South Africa's president until at least 2019.

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