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Jacob Zuma's Nkandla home: South African papers defy photo ban | Jacob Zuma's Nkandla home: South African papers defy photo ban |
(about 1 hour later) | |
South African newspapers have published images of President Jacob Zuma's residence, defying a government warning that this would break security laws. | South African newspapers have published images of President Jacob Zuma's residence, defying a government warning that this would break security laws. |
Mr Zuma's Nkandla residence is at the centre of a row after it emerged that the government had used $20m (£12m) of taxpayers' money to refurbish it. | |
Cabinet ministers on Thursday said anyone who published images or footage of the estate would face arrest. | Cabinet ministers on Thursday said anyone who published images or footage of the estate would face arrest. |
A group of South African editors described the warning as "absurd". | |
The Times newspaper has the headline "So, arrest us", above a picture of the luxury thatched-roof compound. | |
The Star newspaper has a photo of the homestead with a big red cross over it and the caption: "Look away! What ministers don't want you to see". | The Star newspaper has a photo of the homestead with a big red cross over it and the caption: "Look away! What ministers don't want you to see". |
The upgrades to Mr Zuma's private residence include a helipad and an underground bunker, which the government says are needed for security reasons. | |
The contract is being investigated by South Africa's public protector, or anti-corruption watchdog, Thuli Madonsela, amid allegations that costs were inflated, and that the renovations went far beyond what the rules allow for a politician's private home. | |
Earlier this month, security ministers went to court to try to block Ms Madonsela from publishing her report. | |
State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele on Thursday warned newspapers: | |
"No-one, including those in the media, is allowed to take images and publicise images even pointing where the possible security features are," he said. | |
"It is not done anywhere. We have not seen the images of the White House showing where the security features are. It is not done in any democracy." | |
Awkward for ANC | |
Following the publication of the photos, the government has issued a statement, saying that newspapers are within their rights to publish photos of the estate but "zooming into safety and security features... is a challenge as it compromises national security". | |
The newspaper editors say the public paid for the upgrades and have a right to see how their money was spent. | |
The warning has created public outrage, with many expressing their dissatisfaction on Twitter and also posting pictures of the home. | The warning has created public outrage, with many expressing their dissatisfaction on Twitter and also posting pictures of the home. |
The main opposition has lambasted the upgrade and called for investigations into why so much was spent and whether Mr Zuma was aware of the cost burden to the state. | |
The Democratic Alliance has always insisted that the upgrade was not only morally wrong and unjustifiable given the country's social needs, but that it is also possibly illegal. | |
Other opposition parties have called it an abuse of state funds. | |
They also want to know why Mr Zuma's home was classified as a place of national security, despite being a private residence. | |
BBC Africa correspondent Andrew Harding says the issue is an awkward one for the governing African National Congress (ANC), with elections approaching next year. | |
He says it also touches on deeper concerns about the undermining of South Africa's young, but vital, democratic institutions. |
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