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Zuma's South African Nkandla home upgrade 'unethical' | Zuma's South African Nkandla home upgrade 'unethical' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
South Africa's top corruption fighter has said President Jacob Zuma has "benefited unduly" from using state money to improve his rural residence. | South Africa's top corruption fighter has said President Jacob Zuma has "benefited unduly" from using state money to improve his rural residence. |
The changes to Mr Zuma's private home, including a pool and cattle enclosure, cost taxpayers about $23m (£13.8m). | The changes to Mr Zuma's private home, including a pool and cattle enclosure, cost taxpayers about $23m (£13.8m). |
In a more than 400-page report, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela accused Mr Zuma of unethical conduct. | In a more than 400-page report, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela accused Mr Zuma of unethical conduct. |
She said that Mr Zuma, who faces re-election in May, should repay costs for some of the unnecessary renovations. | She said that Mr Zuma, who faces re-election in May, should repay costs for some of the unnecessary renovations. |
The refurbishment of the residence in Nkandla, in Mr Zuma's home province of KwaZulu-Natal, has turned into a major political controversy in South Africa. | The refurbishment of the residence in Nkandla, in Mr Zuma's home province of KwaZulu-Natal, has turned into a major political controversy in South Africa. |
A government probe in December cleared President Zuma, who came to office in May 2009, of any wrongdoing, saying the improvements were needed for security reasons. | |
Correspondents say it was one of the reasons why Mr Zuma was booed in December at the memorial service for Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first black president. | Correspondents say it was one of the reasons why Mr Zuma was booed in December at the memorial service for Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first black president. |
'Bona fide mistake' | |
Ms Madonsela, South Africa's ombudsman, said the cost of the Nkandla upgrades were 215m South African rand ($20m; £12m) at end of her investigation and were now estimated at 246m rand. | Ms Madonsela, South Africa's ombudsman, said the cost of the Nkandla upgrades were 215m South African rand ($20m; £12m) at end of her investigation and were now estimated at 246m rand. |
"The president tacitly accepted the implementation of all measures at his residence and has unduly benefited from the enormous capital investment in the non-security installations at his private residence," the report said. | "The president tacitly accepted the implementation of all measures at his residence and has unduly benefited from the enormous capital investment in the non-security installations at his private residence," the report said. |
The BBC's Milton Nkosi in the capital, Pretoria, says Mr Zuma has in the past repeatedly told parliament he used his own family funds to build his homestead. | |
The report said that while it could be "legitimately construed" that Mr Zuma had misled parliament over the renovations, it said it was a "bona fide mistake". | |
"Some of these measures can be legitimately classified as unlawful and the acts involved constitute improper conduct and maladministration," the AFP news agency quotes the report as saying. | |
Ms Madonsela said Mr Zuma had 14 days to respond to her report before parliament. | Ms Madonsela said Mr Zuma had 14 days to respond to her report before parliament. |