While it has always been the contention that the R246-million spent on President Jacob Zuma’s private home at Nkandla was exorbitant‚ it was assumed the security measures were state-of-the-art.
But an on-site inspection revealed cost escalation and wastage on a scale previously not understood.
Startled MPs who visited the homestead found shoddy workmanship and security computers and equipment still in boxes while some buildings leaked and were cracked.
It was the first time that independent opposition MPs were able to visit the property.
But their discoveries immediately raised the question of where the R246-million had gone and who was responsible for Nkandla.
Police Minister Nathi Nhleko and his colleague at Public Works‚ Thulas Nxesi‚ have been called to appear before parliament’s Nkandla committee to answer further questions that will centre on who was responsible for the debacle.
Clearly the presidency is in damage control mode‚ as evidenced by an unprecedented media tour of the property held on Sunday.
Opposition MPs insist there has to be political accountability‚ perhaps going all the way to the president himself – the ANC in the committee is poised to lay the blame for the overspending‚ theft and wastage on state officials and contractors.
At the centre of the allegations of cost escalation and wastage is Zuma’s architect‚ Minenhle Makhanya‚ who is facing a civil claim for R155-million as the Special Investigating Unit tries to recover some of the misspent money.
Zuma apparently introduced Makhanya to the Public Works team and the architect effectively became the project manager.
But last week a letter emerged‚ which some have characterised as the “smoking gun”‚ that finally ties Zuma to having approved construction for police and defence force housing outside the homestead boundary.
In the letter‚ a senior police superintendent LF Linde says “by instruction of the State President‚ President Zuma‚ the existing house at Nkandla currently accommodate SAPS members must be converted as part of the president’s household.
“To cater for the needs of the members currently accommodated in the house as refer above ‚ additional bachelor flats need to be added to the needs assessment previously provided to your department.”
The letter‚ dated October 2009 and released by Nhleko last week‚ refers to a house on the property previously used to accommodate police.
However‚ the house is now in the middle of what appears to be an entertainment area around the swimming pool.
As a result of the instruction from the letter‚ R135-million was spent on houses and flats for police‚ at a unit cost of about R6-million‚ when property experts have said the housing should not have cost more than R500000 a unit.
The president and parliament could be in for another rough session when he answers questions in the National Assembly next Thursday. — BDlive
After all the money, Nkandla is in a shoddy state
But an on-site inspection revealed cost escalation and wastage on a scale previously not understood.
Startled MPs who visited the homestead found shoddy workmanship and security computers and equipment still in boxes while some buildings leaked and were cracked.
It was the first time that independent opposition MPs were able to visit the property.
But their discoveries immediately raised the question of where the R246-million had gone and who was responsible for Nkandla.
Police Minister Nathi Nhleko and his colleague at Public Works‚ Thulas Nxesi‚ have been called to appear before parliament’s Nkandla committee to answer further questions that will centre on who was responsible for the debacle.
Clearly the presidency is in damage control mode‚ as evidenced by an unprecedented media tour of the property held on Sunday.
Opposition MPs insist there has to be political accountability‚ perhaps going all the way to the president himself – the ANC in the committee is poised to lay the blame for the overspending‚ theft and wastage on state officials and contractors.
At the centre of the allegations of cost escalation and wastage is Zuma’s architect‚ Minenhle Makhanya‚ who is facing a civil claim for R155-million as the Special Investigating Unit tries to recover some of the misspent money.
Zuma apparently introduced Makhanya to the Public Works team and the architect effectively became the project manager.
But last week a letter emerged‚ which some have characterised as the “smoking gun”‚ that finally ties Zuma to having approved construction for police and defence force housing outside the homestead boundary.
In the letter‚ a senior police superintendent LF Linde says “by instruction of the State President‚ President Zuma‚ the existing house at Nkandla currently accommodate SAPS members must be converted as part of the president’s household.
“To cater for the needs of the members currently accommodated in the house as refer above ‚ additional bachelor flats need to be added to the needs assessment previously provided to your department.”
The letter‚ dated October 2009 and released by Nhleko last week‚ refers to a house on the property previously used to accommodate police.
However‚ the house is now in the middle of what appears to be an entertainment area around the swimming pool.
As a result of the instruction from the letter‚ R135-million was spent on houses and flats for police‚ at a unit cost of about R6-million‚ when property experts have said the housing should not have cost more than R500000 a unit.
The president and parliament could be in for another rough session when he answers questions in the National Assembly next Thursday. — BDlive
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