Tafelberg Short: Nkandla - The end of Zuma?. City Press

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СКАЧАТЬ landscaping of Zuma’s residential compound – fell “outside the scope of security measures”.

      In the documentation, “written instruction” from “top ­management” was requested to proceed with work the state was not supposed to fund. There is a suggestion that it be discussed this with Zuma, referred to as the “principal”, because the “financial implication directly affects him”.

      After the publication of this documentation, Presidency spokesperson Zanele Mngadi referred City Press to Public Works for comment. However, the department’s acting director-general, Mandisa Fatyela-Lindie, declined to comment on the amount that was spent.

      “The Nkandla presidential residence, like all other presidential residences in South Africa, is a national key point. As such, information related to the national key point is protected in terms of the National Key Point Act,” was all she said.

      Presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj confirmed that Nkandla and nine other residences of current and former presidents had been declared national key points in April 2010.

      The starting point for any legal evaluation of this alleged splurge of public funds to improve the private residence of our president must be the Executive Members Ethics Act and the code adopted to give effect to it, which binds all Cabinet members, including the president. The act and the code prohibit the president from acting in a way that is inconsistent with his office, using his position to enrich himself, or acting in a way that may compromise the credibility or integrity of his office or of the government. The code further prohibits the president from making improper use of any allowance or payment properly made to him, or to disregard the administrative rules that apply to him.

      It is clear the spending of approximately R250 million on an upgrade to the private home of the president would be in clear breach of these obligations and would therefore be unlawful. No wonder government tried to hide details about the unlawful expenditure by invoking a piece of draconian apartheid legislation on national key points.

      However, in a constitutional democracy, legislation can never be used to hide unlawful conduct, maladministration or corruption; and neither can it be used to try and escape from accountability for the spending of public funds.

      In response to the City Press expose, Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi called for an investigation into how City Press had obtained the documentation.

      Nxesi defended the expenditure, but refused to confirm the amount of taxpayers’ money spent on the project. However, he slammed City Press for publishing details from “top secret” documentation.

      “The merely unlawful possession of a top secret (document) is a breach of the laws … This therefore calls for an investigation to be launched to determine how the City Press illegally ended up in possession of this document,” Nxesi said.

      There was an overwhelming response from South Africans, much of it criticising Nxesi’s response and some of it in support of Nxesi. Here are some Twitter responses:

      •Instead of answering the questions about the Nkandla R200m and giving facts, ANC decides to investigate how City Press got the info. Lovely.– Siyabonga Nyezi

      •Public Works Minister Nxesi to investigate how City Press learned of Nkandla upgrade. Perhaps should investigate why it was kept secret! – Etienne Shardlow

      •Me thinks this ‘ministerial handbook’ needs to be updated and upgraded too, to 2012 requirements! It shouldn’t cost that much. #nkandlagate– Paul A Harris

      •Whether Nxesi launches an investigation or not against City Press, he still to needs explain Nkandlagate! What the hell?! – Nompumelelo Kunene

      •@City_Press Charity starts at Nkandla. – Siegfried Hannig

      •It’s amazing how Thulas Nxesi didn’t deny the story in City Press about 203 million upgrade on Zuma’s home – Mawethu Sunduza

      •Damn all these howlers . . . I’d love to be involved in the development of Nkandla!! Bring on #ruraldevelopment – Sam Mhlungu

      •Interesting that City Press didn’t compare JZ Nkandla spend to Mbeki, de Klerk and Mandela. possibly deliberate. #OneSidedReporting (sic) – Thami Cele

      •Yes, I think City Press should b investigated n nt Zuma, so wat if he want to do sum chnges @Inkandla ... (sic) – zanele

      •Give it up @ferialhaffajee!! Your campaign has failed thus far. No sign of it ever winning @City_Press on Sunday: R200m bill for Nkandla (sic) – Luthando

      •@City_Press Zuma is not Nkandla development will happen with or without u writing negative things about it if it was CPT u will silent!!! (sic) – Sabelo Zulu

      •City Press is at it again, trying desperately to discredit Zuma. We know they oppose Zuma and by implication ANC, they R200m story is insane! (sic) – lindani

      •Officials who gave City Press those unclassified documents are part of the anti-Zuma brigade. Thulas Nxesi can go ahead and launch the probe. – Jobe S Sithole

      •@chestermissing City Press is lying. Discrediting Zuma is part of their plan. Who’d revamp a house for R200m? Do people know how much dis is (sic) – sandile gasa

      Whether taxpayers believed that their money had and was being spent on the president’s home or that the story was fabricated to discredit him, they agreed that such an amount was preposterous – how could such extravagence happen in a country like South Africa?

      And yet it seemed the upgrades to Nkandla were happening, this despite massive upgrades to Zuma’s official residences in Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town, undertaken since 2009. The fact that the cost of living had gone up significantly and that our president married four women – which brought extra costs to taxpayers – should also not be ignored.

      Aside from the day-to-day costs, the Zuma family celebrations seemed disproportionately lavish. When Duduzile got engaged in December 2010, preparations included the removal of the heavy machinery being used for the construction of the helipad.

      Then, April 2012 was a month of celebrations in the Zuma household – third wife Thobeka Madiba-Zuma celebrated her 40th birthday at a lavish bash and Zuma himself cut cakes almost daily at four events arranged for his 70th birthday celebrations. A massive marquee had been erected for Zuma’s birthday party and cattle were slaughtered overnight to feed both the guests and the community. The N2 freeway from Durban and the road leading to Zuma’s homes were dotted with posters directing guests to the party.

      A week later, the president married Bongi Ngema in a private traditional ceremony at Nkandla, with the local community at Nxamalala joining in the celebration.

      In an unfortunate juxtaposition for Zuma, it was revealed toward the end of 2012 that his Malawian colleague, President Joyce Banda, has taken a personal salary cut of 30%. Her humility and no-frills style inspired us all, but not Zuma.

      The security upgrades at Nkandla were also in contrast with the private residences of former presidents FW de Klerk, Mandela and Mbeki have been far more modest than those at Zuma’s Nkandla homestead.

      Former president FW de Klerk’s spokesperson, Dave Steward, said the state had dealt with security facilities at his home in Pretoria and his holiday home in Hermanus. “The budget was relatively modest. There have been no enhancements to his private living quarters. “Security continues to be provided by the state, which conducts assessments СКАЧАТЬ