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South African president to partly pay back cash used for home upgrade South African president to partly pay back cash used for home upgrade
(about 4 hours later)
South Africa’s president, Jacob Zuma, will pay back some of the public funds used to upgrade his private home, his office has said, attempting to end a two-year scandal that has plagued his government. South Africa’s president, Jacob Zuma, will pay back some of the public funds used to upgrade his private home, his office has said, in an attempt to end a two-year scandal that has plagued his government.
Thuli Madonsela, the country’s ombudswoman, ruled in 2014 that Zuma and his family had “benefited unduly” from the work on Zuma’s rural residence of Nkandla. Thuli Madonsela, the country’s ombudswoman, ruled in 2014 that Zuma and his family had “benefited unduly” from the work on the rural residence of Nkandla, in KwaZulu-Natal, one of South Africa’s poorest areas.
Among the supposed security upgrades were a swimming pool described as a fire-fighting facility, a chicken run, a cattle enclosure, an amphitheatre and a visitors’ centre. The upgrades to the sprawling property, which covers the equivalent of eight and a half football pitches, included installation of a swimming pool – described as a fire-fighting facility – a chicken run, a cattle enclosure, an amphitheatre and a visitor centre.
“To achieve an end to the drawn-out dispute ... the president proposes that the determination of the amount he is to pay should be independently and impartially determined,” said a presidential statement. Supporters said the improvements were essential to upgrade security and claimed contractors had inflated costs. However, the scandal – known as “Nkandla-gate” – has been one of the biggest to dog Zuma.
The exact sum will be determined by the treasury and police ministry, it added. Zuma has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing over the upgrades, saying he paid for domestic improvements from family funds. Madonsela cleared him of misleading parliament, and inquiry by the police minister found no wrongdoing.
“To achieve an end to the drawn-out dispute … the president proposes that the determination of the amount he is to pay should be independently and impartially determined,” said a presidential statement.
The exact sum would be determined by the treasury and police ministry, it added.
Related: Jacob Zuma's palatial folly sparks anger and resentment amid povertyRelated: Jacob Zuma's palatial folly sparks anger and resentment amid poverty
Zuma had previously denied any wrongdoing over the upgrades, with opposition lawmakers often disrupting his parliamentary address by chanting: “Pay back the money!” A constitutional court hearing was due next week to consider an attempt by the opposition parties the Democratic Alliance and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) to force Zuma to refund the cash.
His change of position came before a constitutional court hearing next week as opposition parties the Democratic Alliance and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) unite in a legal bid to force him to refund the cash. The upgrades were valued in 2014 at about 216m rand, then worth $24m or £17m. The presidential statement stressed that Zuma “remains critical of a number of factual aspects and legal conclusions” contained in the ombudsman’s damning report.
The upgrades were valued in 2014 at about 216m rand (then worth $24m or £17m). The president, who came to power in 2009, will make his annual state of the nation address in parliament on 11 February, at a time when he is under growing pressure over South Africa’s sharply slowing economy.
Wednesday’s statement stressed that Zuma “remains critical of a number of factual aspects and legal conclusions” contained in the damning report. The occasion descended into chaos last year when EFF politicians scuffled with security guards after interrupting the president to protest over the Nkandla scandal.
Zuma, who has often been accused of allowing corruption to flourish since he came to power in 2009, is under pressure over South Africa’s sharply slowing economy.
He will make his annual state of the nation address in parliament next Thursday.
The occasion descended into chaos last year when EFF lawmakers scuffled with security guards after interrupting him to protest over the Nkandla scandal.