A visibly upset Jacob Zuma yesterday emphatically denied that government had been building residences for him. Zuma also said he felt “aggrieved” by a decision by the DA to visit and take photographs of his private residence.

Speaking in parliament, the president said he already had plans in place to extend his property at Nkandla when government decided to add on “certain safety features.”

A wrong impression is being given in the country that government has built a home for me. It is not true. People are speaking without knowing. It is unfair and I do not want to use harsher words because you believe that people like me cannot build a home. The buildings and every room we use in that residence was built by ourselves as family. I took the decision to extend my home and I built more rondavels. I engaged the bank and I am still paying the bond.

The DA’s parliamentary leader, Lindiwe Mazibuko, however, was unmoved. She asked Zuma to explain the “security enhancements” made at Nkandla, that included 31 new buildings, six of which cost R8 million each; a R2,3 million lift to the bunker; R1,5 million for airconditioning systems for each of the houses; a visitor centre; a gymnasium; and guest rooms.

The fact that this is the honorable president’s private home, is something that we take exception to. The government does not have a responsibility to upgrade, at a cost of R250 million, the private home of the president.

And we have to agree, she does have a point. According to the presidential handbook, only R100 000 may be taken from the government’s funds in order to upgrade his private residence. And whether or not they were purely for “safety reasons”, with a R250 million upgrade Zuma has already spent 2 500 times more than the allowed amount!

[Source: SABC]