President Jacob Zuma is adamant that he never lied to the nation when he told parliament that he and his family had paid for his homestead at Nkandla.
He told opposition MPs in the National Assembly during question time on Tuesday to “just keep quiet and listen” after DA leader Mmusi Maimane asked him to explain how his family had come to benefit from extensive upgrades at the sprawling residence in KwaZulu-Natal.
Maimane quoted Zuma’s previous statement‚ in which he declared that‚ “all the buildings and every room that we use in that residence were built by ourselves as a family and not by government. I have never asked government to build a home for me and it has not done so. The government has not built a home for me. I engaged the banks and I’m still paying a bond for the first phase of my home.”
The Constitutional Court and Public Protector had‚ however‚ found that Zuma and his family had unduly benefited from the upgrades‚ using taxpayers’ money‚ said Maimane. “Both statements cannot hold true. So either the Constitutional Court and the Public Protector are lying to the people of South Africa or in fact you are lying to the people of South Africa‚” he said.
Zuma accused Maimane of phrasing the question in a crafty fashion in order to cloud the real situation: “I must say to the honourable member‚ I did not lie.”
Zuma explained that he had started extending the homestead before he became president. Three homes‚ he said‚ were already under construction.
“Government came‚ as soon as I became president‚ with a plan based on the old homestead before it was extended. They came with a plan. I said‚ ‘Your plan is not going to fit here because your plan is not in keeping with the size that I am now extending’. They went back to work on it. That’s when they came back‚ the building‚ landscaping‚ everything was on‚” he said to heckling from the floor about the “fire pool”.
“Just keep quiet and listen‚” he said. “The Public Protector said what government provided as security features in my homestead …. These items they represent the kraal‚ fowl run‚ swimming pool‚ um‚ yebo‚ fire pool yes‚ fire pool‚ and a waiting room and the amphitheatre. Five. They are not talking about a house that people live in with bedrooms and living rooms.”
The Public Protector found that Zuma and his family had indirectly benefited from the upgrades and that he should repay a reasonable portion of the cost. The Treasury is yet to determine what amount must be repaid.
“The first phase of it‚ I have a bond that I’m paying. The second one‚ the family paid. Not the five issues that were built by government …. I therefore never lied‚” said Zuma.
I never lied about Nkandla: Zuma
He told opposition MPs in the National Assembly during question time on Tuesday to “just keep quiet and listen” after DA leader Mmusi Maimane asked him to explain how his family had come to benefit from extensive upgrades at the sprawling residence in KwaZulu-Natal.
Maimane quoted Zuma’s previous statement‚ in which he declared that‚ “all the buildings and every room that we use in that residence were built by ourselves as a family and not by government. I have never asked government to build a home for me and it has not done so. The government has not built a home for me. I engaged the banks and I’m still paying a bond for the first phase of my home.”
The Constitutional Court and Public Protector had‚ however‚ found that Zuma and his family had unduly benefited from the upgrades‚ using taxpayers’ money‚ said Maimane. “Both statements cannot hold true. So either the Constitutional Court and the Public Protector are lying to the people of South Africa or in fact you are lying to the people of South Africa‚” he said.
Zuma accused Maimane of phrasing the question in a crafty fashion in order to cloud the real situation: “I must say to the honourable member‚ I did not lie.”
Zuma explained that he had started extending the homestead before he became president. Three homes‚ he said‚ were already under construction.
“Government came‚ as soon as I became president‚ with a plan based on the old homestead before it was extended. They came with a plan. I said‚ ‘Your plan is not going to fit here because your plan is not in keeping with the size that I am now extending’. They went back to work on it. That’s when they came back‚ the building‚ landscaping‚ everything was on‚” he said to heckling from the floor about the “fire pool”.
“Just keep quiet and listen‚” he said. “The Public Protector said what government provided as security features in my homestead …. These items they represent the kraal‚ fowl run‚ swimming pool‚ um‚ yebo‚ fire pool yes‚ fire pool‚ and a waiting room and the amphitheatre. Five. They are not talking about a house that people live in with bedrooms and living rooms.”
The Public Protector found that Zuma and his family had indirectly benefited from the upgrades and that he should repay a reasonable portion of the cost. The Treasury is yet to determine what amount must be repaid.
“The first phase of it‚ I have a bond that I’m paying. The second one‚ the family paid. Not the five issues that were built by government …. I therefore never lied‚” said Zuma.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos