adminDemocratic Alliance parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane says President Jacob Zuma owes South Africans R52,9 million for non-security upgrades at his private Nkandla homestead in KwaZulu-Natal. “Based on her [Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s] report Secure in Comfort, the DA has calculated that the president is liable for at least an amount of R52,9 million for the non-security upgrades to his private residence,” he told reporters in Joburg yesterday.
Maimane said this was a reasonable amount for Zuma to repay.
In her report released in March last year, Madonsela said Zuma had unduly benefited from the nonsecurity upgrades to his private Nkandla residence, which totalled R246 million.
She recommended that Zuma pay back “a reasonable percentage of the cost”.
Maimane said it was not a question of “if” Zuma should pay, but of “how much”.
“When the office of the president changes hands, Nkandla will remain the property of Mr Zuma for his personal and private benefit,” Maimane said.
There was no doubt Zuma was aware of the upgrades done to the homestead.
Maimane said he laid eight charges of corruption against Zuma at the Nkandla police station in April last year “for his complicity in the misappropriation of public funds at Nkandla”.
This was in terms of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.
He urged Zuma to accept responsibility and repay the money immediately. – Sapa
Online Reporter
Londile Moyo