The South African Presidency on Friday rejected allegations by some opposition leaders that President Jacob Zuma undermines Parliament and evades accountability. 
“President Zuma presented himself for his quarterly oral reply session in the National Assembly. It is regrettable that yet again, some members of the National Assembly made it impossible for the President to respond to questions,” presidential spokesperson Harold Maloka said.
MPs of the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) disrupted Parliament again on Thursday, pressing Zuma to clarify on when he would pay back the money lavished on the upgrades of his private home in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal Province.
After failing to restore order, National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete announced the adjournment of Parliament.
The opposition accused Zuma of deliberately evading questions in relation to slow economic growth, the unemployment crisis and rampant crime, in addition to the Nkandla scandal.
“Zuma has always honored his Parliamentary obligations to appear before the house,” Maloka said.
The president has to respond to oral questions four times a year in the National Assembly and once in the National Council of Provinces.
The EFF has repeatedly disrupted Parliament, citing Zuma’s refusal to pay back the money on the Nkandla project, which cost public funds worth 246 million rand (about 20 million US dollars).
Zuma’s next oral reply session in the National Assembly is in August 2015. Enditem
-Xinhua
