Zuma faces backlash on Twitter after addressing South Africa

President Jacob Zuma hastily took to the airwaves on Friday to announce his thoughts on this week’s Constitutional Court judgement.

The court found that Zuma had indeed violated the Constitution when he ignored Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s Nkandla report.

“It puts an end to any other interpretation of this matter,” Zuma said, adding that there was “no deliberate intention” to violate the Constitution. Zuma said he would pay back the money — the amount has yet to be determined.

Expected a call for resignation? Politicians and ordinary citizens wasted no time in expressing themselves, hammering their “tweet” buttons in the wake of the briefing.

Some recalled former president Thabo Mbeki’s, well… recall…

SA: ANC remember when you kicked out Mbeki for things smaller then this?

ANC: pic.twitter.com/zZqBRDDgnO

— Tronik Universe (@ValentineTronik) April 1, 2016

#Mbeki was forced to step down for much less. Why is #Zuma still holding on?

— Maseeha (@MaseehaCh) April 1, 2016

Thabo Mbeki Should take ANC to the CCMA for unfair dismissal…If #zuma gets away with such

— mat_G mathagu (@mathagumulweli) April 1, 2016

Political players also weighed in on the matter.

Zuma’s speech: strategic blunder. If he wasn’t resigning he should not have addressed the nation. The speech will inflame not defuse crisis.

— Adam Habib (@AdHabb) April 1, 2016

As a SAfrican, the Statement by Zuma & ANC insults us. This is no longer NMandela’s party, it’s departed from constitution. #vote4change

— Mmusi Maimane (@MmusiMaimane) April 1, 2016

It’s nice on Planet Zuma.

— Helen Zille (@helenzille) April 1, 2016

He must be thinking we are all fools

— Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) April 1, 2016

Anyone who for minute thought #Zuma can ever act in the best interest of SA other than for his family and friends has not understood the man

— Zwelinzima Vavi (@Zwelinzima1) April 1, 2016

Others used a little humour to lighten up proceedings.

#Zuma This is like the cheating husband telling the wife I’m sorry. BUT it wasn’t my fault. I didn’t know I was sleeping with someone else.

— Andrea van Wyk (@AndyvanWyk) April 1, 2016

Zuma: My bad, guys.
RSA: …
ANC: He said my bad, chill fam.

— Quinton Bronkhorst (@qornea) April 1, 2016

Zuma: “I was not aware”

Nation: pic.twitter.com/G33YdYVnA8

— Hoes Love Nana (@Life_of_Nana) April 1, 2016

One day #Zuma‘s gonna call a press conference to resign and no one will be watching.

— John Murray (@avesse) April 1, 2016

So does must mean that when traffic cops pull us over, we can say: “Sorry. I didn’t mean to break the law.” Thanks, JZ! #Zuma

— Mandy Collins (@CollinsMandy) April 1, 2016