President Jacob Zuma must cancel the upgrade to his Nkandla homestead and spend the money on neighbouring communities, says DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko

“Today I have called on President Zuma to do what is right, and what his high office demands of him. He does not have to wait for the Public Protector inquiry, which I will be calling for, to correct this wrongdoing,” she said in a speech prepared for delivery at the University of the Western Cape.

“He can cancel his upgrade, and instead spend the money on the neighbouring communities which so desperately need jobs, infrastructure, and services.” 

On Sunday, the Democratic Alliance called for Public Protector Thuli Madonsela to probe allegations that R203 million of taxpayers’ money would be spent on the project.

The DA’s outrage came after City Press reported Zuma would only be footing 5% of the bill, around R10 million.

Mazibuko said it was a social injustice to pay R203m when the region, in northern KwaZulu-Natal, needed clinics, hospitals, and “decent” classrooms.

She said the money could instead be used to:

• build 3,692 RDP houses worth R55,000 each,
• pay 846 school teachers a monthly salary of R20,000 for a year, or
• hire almost 2,000 trucks for a week to deliver textbooks in Limpopo.

“It is not too late for President Zuma to apologise and cancel this lavish personal enrichment.”