Letters of reprimand sent to Nkandla ministers - Presidency

President Jacob Zuma’s office said on Friday that three ministers linked to the Nkandla upgrades have been reprimanded.

The Presidency statement read: “Letters of reprimand to the Ministers involved have been sent to the following Ministers:Minister of Public Works‚ Mr Thulas Nxesi; Former Minister of Police‚ Mr Nathi Mthethwa; Former Minister of Public Works and High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa to Sri Lanka‚ Mr Geoff Doidge.”

This is in line with the Constitutional Court’s order‚ from March 31‚ that President Zuma must comply with the remedial action taken against him‚ by the Public Protector in her report of 19 March 2014.

“Work is continuing to implement the remedial action‚” the presidency said.

“The payment of a reasonable percentage of the cost of the measures will be done after the National Treasury has made a determination. The National Treasury is currently seized with the matter.”

The statement added that an inter-departmental committee has been established by the Presidency to update the 2003 Cabinet Policy and to draft clear standards on the security measures that can be taken‚ the reasonable cost that can be incurred by the state and the conditions subject to which current and former Presidents and Deputy Presidents would qualify for such measures.

“The Department of Defence is drafting the Standard Operating Procedures regulating the implementation of the benefits extended to Presidents‚ Deputy Presidents‚ the Minister and Deputy Minister of Defence and foreign dignitaries (at the request of the Minister of International Relations)‚ which is aligned with the principles of equality‚ proportionality‚ reasonableness and justifiability.”