‘Zumaville’ info in annual reports

Johannesburg - Information on the Nkandla development project, dubbed “Zumaville” by media, would be contained in the annual reports of the departments involved, the government said on Thursday.

“Government has noted that some members of the media have been asking departments to provide information concerning their involvement or financial contribution to the Nkandla development project,” the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) said in a brief statement.

Departments were finalising annual reports which would detail projects and budget expenditure for the 2011/12 financial year. These reports would be presented to Parliament towards the end of next month.

“All interested parties including members of the media are encouraged to monitor the presentations and interact with information contained in the reports accordingly,” GCIS said.

The planned new town would be constructed in President Jacob Zuma's hometown of Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, about 50km from Melmoth.

The government would reportedly direct more than R1 billion of taxpayers' money into the development, while a further R1 billion would be raised from the private sector.

Last week, the United Democratic Movement called on government to explain the construction.

“The reports about Zumaville have been going on for weeks without a word from government,” party leader Bantu Holomisa said.

“It seems government thinks that by ignoring them and the people's concerns about the matter it will make the Zumaville saga go away.”

Holomisa said Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan had made no mention of the project in his 2012 budget speech. No large development expenditure for Nkandla had been mentioned in the vote on the budget.

“The UDM calls on the minister of finance to explain to the nation whether national resources have been diverted from other departments to the Zumaville project,” Holomisa said. - Sapa