Opposition party calls report a “whitewash”
Public funds were not spent on building South African President Jacob Zuma's a house in his home village of Nkandla, state investigators said on Sunday, in a report that sought to end one of the biggest scandals to hit Zuma before elections next year.
“There is no evidence that any house belonging to the president was built with public money,” Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi said, following an investigation by a task team.
The report did say the government had spent 206 million rand on security upgrades and related costs at the president’s private compound, and that this decision was based on an assessment of threats to Zuma.
Included in this amount was R135 million for “operational needs”, and R71 million for consultants and security features such as bullet proof windows and security fencing.
The task team was appointed in November after the costs of Zuma’s residential complex caused an outcry. The matter was also raised in Parliament.
The investigation by Nxesi’s department, which was in charge of the upgrades, did find irregularities in awarding tenders.
Nxesi told reporters that any officials at his department who were implicated would be investigated and held accountable.
The main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party called the report, which will not be made public, a “whitewash”, and said the investigators seemed more focused on punishing low-ranking officials than holding Zuma responsible.
“There was absolutely no willingness on the part of government to admit to South Africans today that spending this amount on one man’s home is ethically and lawfully wrong,” said Lindiwe Mazibuko, the DA’s parliamentary leader.
Justice Minister Jeffrey Radebe said Zuma did not know the details of the security arrangements at his home.
“The president is not involved in this process and he is not expected to sign on anything as he has no authority with these security upgrades,” he said.
The report was welcomed by the ruling ANC.
“The ANC believes that this report will bring to closure the issue of Nkandla that has generated speculative public opinion and has been used to incorrectly attack the President, the ANC and its government,” a spokesman said.
Zuma home not built with public funds: Nxesi
Opposition party calls report a “whitewash”
Public funds were not spent on building South African President Jacob Zuma's a house in his home village of Nkandla, state investigators said on Sunday, in a report that sought to end one of the biggest scandals to hit Zuma before elections next year.
“There is no evidence that any house belonging to the president was built with public money,” Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi said, following an investigation by a task team.
The report did say the government had spent 206 million rand on security upgrades and related costs at the president’s private compound, and that this decision was based on an assessment of threats to Zuma.
Included in this amount was R135 million for “operational needs”, and R71 million for consultants and security features such as bullet proof windows and security fencing.
The task team was appointed in November after the costs of Zuma’s residential complex caused an outcry. The matter was also raised in Parliament.
The investigation by Nxesi’s department, which was in charge of the upgrades, did find irregularities in awarding tenders.
Nxesi told reporters that any officials at his department who were implicated would be investigated and held accountable.
The main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party called the report, which will not be made public, a “whitewash”, and said the investigators seemed more focused on punishing low-ranking officials than holding Zuma responsible.
“There was absolutely no willingness on the part of government to admit to South Africans today that spending this amount on one man’s home is ethically and lawfully wrong,” said Lindiwe Mazibuko, the DA’s parliamentary leader.
Justice Minister Jeffrey Radebe said Zuma did not know the details of the security arrangements at his home.
“The president is not involved in this process and he is not expected to sign on anything as he has no authority with these security upgrades,” he said.
The report was welcomed by the ruling ANC.
“The ANC believes that this report will bring to closure the issue of Nkandla that has generated speculative public opinion and has been used to incorrectly attack the President, the ANC and its government,” a spokesman said.
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