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KwaZulu-Natal is President Jacob Zuma's home ground

This is according to a report by the Mail & Guardian.

Initial estimates were that the government would have to direct more than R1-billion of taxpayers’ money into the development.

Another R1-billion would be needed from the private sector to make the project viable.

It was the brainchild of Masibam­bisane, a rural development organisation Zuma chairs, which the Democratic Alliance has described as a “hand-out scheme used by Zuma to curry favour”.

But the department of rural development and land reform had taken up the project with apparent enthusiasm.

In July, expelled ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema accused him of building a “New York City of KwaZulu-Natal” in Nkandla.

So the “Zumaville” plans could plague the ANC leader as politicking as the party heats up in the run-up to the party’s elective conference in Mangaung in December.

But Zuma’s spokesman, Mac Maharaj, described the criticism as “reckless” and “without basis in fact”.

“Rural development is one of the priorities of the government and is not restricted to one area,” he was quoted as saying.

The construction would transform what is a dusty backwater with basic government buildings scattered among isolated rural homesteads into tree-lined avenues and covered walkways connecting modern, architect-designed buildings, the newspaper said.

Last year, Zuma came under fire for a multi-million rand upgrade to his homestead, which apparently included underground living quarters.

The IFP accused the president of giving Nkandla preferential treatment in government’s rural development programme.

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Sat May 25 05:54:35 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 3, 2012

webcaddler

this iz wat comrade malema was preaching on.....FYI sowetan bloggers

http://mg.co.za/multimedia/2012-07-05-whos-president-zuma-to-talk-about-discipline
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Aug 3, 2012

magwinyimbuzi

Amen I am done with this man
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Aug 3, 2012

S'bo

And the South African voter tends to forget this when its time to vote. I guess in a democracy u get the government u deserve. Let there be no complaining when this country joins the rest of Africa as a failed state eg Zimbabwe next door. U voted for it all the way.
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Aug 3, 2012

DJWinner

There is nothing wrong with that. Mbeki and Mandela also developed Eastern Cape, especially iQunu. I paid my tax for Qunu's development.
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Aug 3, 2012

Mellow

Initial estimates were that the government would have to direct more than R1-billion of taxpayers’ money into the development.
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My hard earned money is going to build zumaville? This is not rural development they cant honestly do this why Nkandla out of all the rural areas in Mzansi they are turning this particular one into NYC?
Ooohh zuma your days are numbered
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Aug 3, 2012

MsKinkyakaKamaSutra

There are so many Rbillion going around................

The flippen gantries could have been paid from government coffers BUT NO they want to su.ck us dry............. At the rate that Zommer is going i bet they will even ration and tax the number of times we go to the loo

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Aug 3, 2012

DJWinner

We will also build airport there for the President's jet to land. President won't go hungry while we are still alive.
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Aug 3, 2012

KgaboMokgatla

What surprises us anyway!! Msholozi has demonstrated over and over again that he is in that position to grab as much moolah as possible! Oh no! He started even before he became the prez, so he is continuing where he left off, only this time he is doing it officially and with the permission of his henchmen in parliament. Well done msholozi sir, hope you can sleep peacefully when you know that you refuse to give the poor, under-paid government employees a mere 10% increase but can afford to build a town in your homestead. Count my vote out in the next elections!!
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Aug 3, 2012

truthhurt

I am getting stomach cramps, after reading this.
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Aug 3, 2012

Tango

DJWinner
There is nothing wrong with that. Mbeki and Mandela also developed Eastern Cape, especially iQunu. I paid my tax for Qunu's development
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I agree
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