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Report Faults South African Leader on State-Funded Home Improvements Report Faults South African Leader on State-Funded Home Improvements
(about 1 hour later)
LONDON — Less than two months before a national election, South Africa’s public prosecutor found on Wednesday that President Jacob G. Zuma “benefited unduly” in a manner “inconsistent with his office” from state-funded improvements worth around $23 million to his rural estate that were supposed to enhance presidential security. LONDON — Less than two months before national elections, South Africa’s public prosecutor issued a report on Wednesday finding that President Jacob G. Zuma “benefited unduly,” in a manner “inconsistent with his office,” from state-funded improvements worth around $23 million to his rural estate that were supposed to enhance presidential security.
The expansion of the luxurious homestead in the village of Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal Province has been widely chronicled in newspaper reports showing a swimming pool, a visitor center, a cattle enclosure and an amphitheater, among other additions. The report, excerpts from which were read out on South African radio, said the supposed security renovations also included a chicken coop. A swimming pool was described as firefighting equipment to justify the cost. The expansion of Mr. Zuma’s luxurious homestead in the village of Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal Province has been widely chronicled in newspaper reports showing a swimming pool, a visitor center, a cattle enclosure and an amphitheater, among other additions. The prosecutor’s report, excerpts from which were read aloud on South African radio, said the supposed security renovations also included a chicken coop. A swimming pool was described as firefighting equipment to justify the cost.
With Mr. Zuma’s dominant African National Congress facing the prospect of a reduced majority in the May 7 elections, the 444-page report by Thuli Madonsela, the public prosecutor, could deepen public disaffection.With Mr. Zuma’s dominant African National Congress facing the prospect of a reduced majority in the May 7 elections, the 444-page report by Thuli Madonsela, the public prosecutor, could deepen public disaffection.
The party has led South Africa since the first elections after the end of apartheid in 1994. But it has been associated with accusations of corruption, incompetence and failure to deliver the public services it has long promised to South Africans living in poverty.The party has led South Africa since the first elections after the end of apartheid in 1994. But it has been associated with accusations of corruption, incompetence and failure to deliver the public services it has long promised to South Africans living in poverty.
The opposition Democratic Alliance said on Wednesday that it would seek Mr. Zuma’s impeachment — a largely symbolic gesture given the A.N.C.'s strength in Parliament.The opposition Democratic Alliance said on Wednesday that it would seek Mr. Zuma’s impeachment — a largely symbolic gesture given the A.N.C.'s strength in Parliament.
Urging Mr. Zuma to repay “a reasonable percentage of the cost of the measures,” the prosecutor’s 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 nonsecurity installations at his private residence.” Urging Mr. Zuma to repay “a reasonable percentage of the cost of the measures,” the prosecutor’s 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 nonsecurity installations at his private residence.”
Mr. Zuma has weathered a series of scandals and his party has routinely supported him. The election on May 7 — which is expected to give Mr. Zuma a second term as president — is important because it will show the extent to which disillusion with the A.N.C. could redraw the political landscape. Mr. Zuma has weathered a series of scandals, and his party has routinely supported him. The elections on May 7 — which are expected to give Mr. Zuma a second term as president — are important because they will show the extent to which disillusionment with the A.N.C. could redraw the political landscape.
Ms. Madonsela has been investigating state expenditure on the homestead at Nkandla for around two years, although news of the contentious construction projects emerged in newspaper reports more than four years ago. Ms. Madonsela has been investigating state expenditures on the homestead at Nkandla for around two years, although news of the contentious construction projects emerged in newspaper reports more than four years ago.
At that time, the cost of the improvements was estimated at around $6 million, but the scale of the spending has mushroomed. The report said ministers had mismanaged the improvements in an “appalling manner.” At that time, the cost of the improvements was estimated at $6 million, but the scale of the spending has mushroomed. The report said ministers had mismanaged the improvements in an “appalling manner.”
Mr. Zuma’s supporters say the improvements relate to the requirements of presidential security, but the cost has been estimated to be many times higher than the amount spent on securing the home of Nelson Mandela, who died in December, or any other former president.Mr. Zuma’s supporters say the improvements relate to the requirements of presidential security, but the cost has been estimated to be many times higher than the amount spent on securing the home of Nelson Mandela, who died in December, or any other former president.
“Some of these measures can be legitimately classified as unlawful and the acts involved constitute improper conduct and maladministration,” the report said. “Some of these measures can be legitimately classified as unlawful, and the acts involved constitute improper conduct and maladministration,” the report said. Funds to complete the work were diverted from inner-city regeneration projects.
State expenditure “went beyond what was reasonably required for the president’s security,” it added, and funds to complete the work were diverted from inner-city regeneration projects. Mr. Zuma’s compound, which is surrounded by a security fence, straddles a ridge line in the rolling hills of a region where many struggle just to get by. Most people in the country live in far less opulent circumstances, millions are unemployed and many have no access to basic services, like running water, sanitation and electricity.
The presidential compound, which is surrounded by a security fence, straddles a ridgeline in the rolling hills of a region where many struggle just to get by. Most people in the country live in far less opulent circumstances, millions are unemployed and many have no access to basic services such as running water, sanitation and electricity. In November, Mr. Zuma told Parliament: “My residence in Nkandla has been paid for by the Zuma family. All the buildings and every room we use in that residence was built by ourselves as a family, and not by government.”
In November, Mr. Zuma told Parliament: “My residence in Nkandla has been paid for by the Zuma family. All the buildings and every room we use in that residence was built by ourselves as a family and not by government.”