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Video demonstrates how Nkandla fire pool works

Police Minister Nathi Nhleko has defended the fire pool at President Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla homestead‚ following on his department’s investigation into the upgrades.

The report comes in the wake of a report by the Public Protector‚ Thuli Madonsela‚ which recommended that the president be held liable for a portion of specific upgrades which were questionable from a security point of view.

These included the firepoool/swimming pool‚ the amphitheatre‚ the visitor’s centre and the new kraal and chicken run.

Nhleko‚ who is still making the presentation‚ has outlined the following regarding the firepool:

-The proximity of the huts to one another and their thatched roofs means that fire would be difficult to control should it occur.

-The initial SAPS police security study found that firefighting equipment would need to be placed on site in case of a fire.

-Firefighting experts tested the water pressure and found that “an open water source is best for firefighting and nothing could be better than the pool or dam“.

-A test was done in February this year. The local fire brigade took one hour and 10 minutes to arrive. Suction from the pool worked better than the hydrants‚ which did not have sufficient water pressure.

-The water supply to Nkandla is erratic‚ has low pressure and often runs out.

Media were shown a video of the firefighting exercise which included dramatic music‚ a call to the firestation and the arrival of the firefighters with small‚ leaking pumps and firefighting hoses which resembled hosepipes.

Click below to view the video

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