Zuma still applying his mind to Fica bill

Cape Town – President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday confirmed he was considering the merits of objections received to the financial intelligence centre amendment (Fica) bill. 

The Fica bill was passed by Parliament in May 2016 and submitted for Zuma’s approval on June 13. Zuma was supposed to sign it within a 30-day period, which has since expired.

In response to a question posed by DA spokesperson on finance, David Maynier, Zuma said he received formal objections to the signing of the bill from the Progressive Professionals Forum and the Black Business Council. 

“When I am petitioned not to sign a bill, I have an obligation to consider the merits of such objection focusing mainly on whether the interested parties raise valid constitutional issues,” Zuma said. 

He also confirmed that he received formal correspondence in support of the bill from EFF MP Floyd Shivambu, and Lawson Naidoo, executive secretary of the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (Casac).

Casac’s Naidoo earlier told Fin24 that the organisation has instituted proceedings to secure Zuma’s compliance with his constitutional obligations, since he is required by law to either sign the bill, or refer it back to Parliament.

In September this year, BusinessLive reported that Mzwanele Manyi, in his capacity as leader of the Progressive Professionals Forum, petitioned Zuma to not sign the bill into law.

Manyi argued the bill violates the constitutional rights of affected South African citizens – “the so-called domestic prominent influential persons and their families and associates”, Manyi said in his objection letter to Zuma.