JOHANNESBURG: South Africa’s top court rules on Thursday on whether President Jacob Zuma must repay the state some of $16 million spent upgrading his private home, a judgment that could hit the leader politically as well as financially.

In the latest twist to a six-year saga over his sprawling Nkandla residence, the Constitutional Court must decide whether the findings of Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, a constitutionally mandated anti-graft watchdog, are binding.

If it says they are — and signs point in that direction — Zuma faces a bill that could run into millions of rand, and more heat from members of his African National Congress (ANC) who fear his tarnished record will hurt the party in mid-year provincial elections.

After a string of scandals during his seven years in office, Zuma has been under intense pressure since December when his abrupt firing of Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene sent the rand into a tail-spin.

In a surprising move last month, Zuma offered to pay back some of the money spent on Nkandla.

His lawyer, Jeremy Gauntlett, then admitted to the Constitutional Court that their Nkandla defense — based on the contention that all the improvements were security-related — had been wrong and that Madonsela’s findings were binding, making it unlikely Zuma will win a ruling in his favor.

The ANC’s majority in Parliament will almost certainly give political cover from any opposition attempt to impeach Zuma, but a large construction bill could trigger more cries of financial impropriety, stoking opposition within the ruling party.

“It doesn’t lead to impeachment but it does lead to the president having to come up with the money, which I think he probably can do given the kind of accumulation of wealth of his family and friends,” said independent political analyst Nic Borain.

“But that is going to raise the question of how has he managed to come up with that money.”

As president, Zuma’s annual salary is 2.7 million rand. If any payment were made on his behalf, they would be liable for income tax at 41 percent.

Madonsela’s 2014 report on the Nkandla upgrades made clear Zuma should pay for anything not security-related, in particular a cattle enclosure, amphitheater, visitor center, chicken run and swimming pool.