Former president Nelson Mandela’s Qunu home does not have a fire pool.
Daughter Makaziwe Mandela and grandchildren Ndaba and Ndileka Mandela said it was nothing more than an ordinary swimming pool – paid for by their late grandfather.
The upgrades included electric pallisade fencing, an elevator, a guardhouse, automatic gates, security cameras and an alarm system.
His daughter Makaziwe Mandela said: “What fire pool? That’s nonsense. My father built that house for himself with his own money.”
She declined to comment further.
A family member, who declined to be named, said the pool was a normal swimming pool used by the family.
“There is no fire pool there or anything of that kind. Even the cattle underpass was not made for the cattle on Madiba’s farm.
“It was made for the community. The farm is big enough for the cattle to graze without leaving the yard.”
Police ministry spokesman Musa Zondi said the Daily Dispatch should ask the department of public works questions relating to the buildings of former presidents.
When told that the Mandela family disputed Nhleko’s statement, Zondi said: “I will not discuss that.
“If you have any questions, the department of public works will be in a position to answer you.”
The national public works director of media and stakeholder relations, Thami Mchunu, said he would respond to Daily Dispatch questions today.
The cattle culvert referred to by Nhleko was constructed beneath the busy N2 and links Qunu villages on both sides of the road.
It is situated outside the homestead and is used by members of the community and livestock to avoid accidents on the N2 highway.
Qunu resident Ntombentsha Hako was yesterday surprised to learn of the minister’s statements.
“All I know is that the culvert is used by livestock when shepherds take them to graze in the fields across the road. Children use it often to walk between the villages.
“Ever since it was made there have been no accidents but before children would be hit by cars travelling at high speed. I think it was constructed around 2004 after a car knocked over a child who was crossing the road.”
Mandela family says Tata never had a fire pool
Daughter Makaziwe Mandela and grandchildren Ndaba and Ndileka Mandela said it was nothing more than an ordinary swimming pool – paid for by their late grandfather.
The upgrades included electric pallisade fencing, an elevator, a guardhouse, automatic gates, security cameras and an alarm system.
His daughter Makaziwe Mandela said: “What fire pool? That’s nonsense. My father built that house for himself with his own money.”
She declined to comment further.
A family member, who declined to be named, said the pool was a normal swimming pool used by the family.
“There is no fire pool there or anything of that kind. Even the cattle underpass was not made for the cattle on Madiba’s farm.
“It was made for the community. The farm is big enough for the cattle to graze without leaving the yard.”
Police ministry spokesman Musa Zondi said the Daily Dispatch should ask the department of public works questions relating to the buildings of former presidents.
When told that the Mandela family disputed Nhleko’s statement, Zondi said: “I will not discuss that.
“If you have any questions, the department of public works will be in a position to answer you.”
The national public works director of media and stakeholder relations, Thami Mchunu, said he would respond to Daily Dispatch questions today.
The cattle culvert referred to by Nhleko was constructed beneath the busy N2 and links Qunu villages on both sides of the road.
It is situated outside the homestead and is used by members of the community and livestock to avoid accidents on the N2 highway.
Qunu resident Ntombentsha Hako was yesterday surprised to learn of the minister’s statements.
“All I know is that the culvert is used by livestock when shepherds take them to graze in the fields across the road. Children use it often to walk between the villages.
“Ever since it was made there have been no accidents but before children would be hit by cars travelling at high speed. I think it was constructed around 2004 after a car knocked over a child who was crossing the road.”
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