If you feel like owning a rather notorious piece of South African political history, then you’ll be interested to know that Jacob Zuma’s Johannesburg mansion is on the market for R6,5 million.

Located in the leafy-named Forest Town, a suburb which lies between the busy thoroughfares of Jan Smuts Avenue and Oxford Road, the five-bedroom, five-bathroom home boasts four entertainment areas and a koppie in the garden.

Images of the interior of the home are hard to come by but, via the Sunday Times, here’s what we know:

The Forest Town house was bought for Zuma in 2005 by Hola Recruitment & Selection Services for R3.6m. The company is owned by Zephroma Sizani Dubazana, a former personal assistant to Zuma’s ex-wife, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. At the time Zuma was deputy president.

When the Sunday Times visited the house on Friday, Zuma was at home. His protection detail was outside in several black vehicles. A Firzt Realty “for sale” sign was outside the house, which is in a cul-de-sac in Epping Road.

Firzt consultant Rufina Mausenbaum said the house could be viewed by appointment. “It’s on the market for R6.5m. We have been instructed by a company to sell it,” she said.

If you’re wondering about the ‘notorious piece of South African political history’ comment, that’s because this is the house where Zuma was accused of raping Fezekile “Khwezi” Ntuskela Kuzwayo in 2005.

Pretty unreal to think that, even after his behaviour in that court case, he would go on to lead this country for close to nine years.

We were then treated to moments like these:

How is this man not behind bars?

His mounting legal woes may actually be the reason behind the sale of his mansion:

He will again be in the high court in Pietermaritzburg on November 30 on corruption charges. At his last appearance, in July, it was disclosed that he had changed his long-time lawyer Michael Hulley because of costs…

[Firzt consultant Rufina] Mausenbaum said reasons for the sale had not been disclosed. “It’s seldom that we receive reasons for sales.” She said the house was in an “incredibly secure” area.

Given that Zuma is entitled to full state benefits, which means an annual salary of R2,87 million for life, along with a medical aid and a pension payout, my sympathies are severely limited.

Then there’s all the money he probably has tucked away in Dubai and Russia, although his failure to push through the disastrous nuclear deal might make Putin’s reception a touch frosty.

One neighbour, who didn’t want to be named, said Zuma “had been a pleasant, respectful and quiet neighbour…[and] when we did see him, he always waved and greeted us”.

Well, that makes it all OK, then.

The property can be viewed by appointment only, with the sale being handled by estate agency Firzt Realty.

[source:sundaytimes]