![141012: PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma's home in Nkandla bove: Part of the 20-unit luxury compound built close to P\[fiona.stent\]the president Jacob Zuma s house as part of the R232-million expansion. Top: The Zuma homestead and surroundings in 2009, left, and the development as it looks now, right. Pictures: DOCTOR NGCOBO and GCINA NDWALANE Picture: DOCTOR NGCOBO](https://image-prod.iol.co.za/16x9/1600/141012-PRESIDENT-Jacob-Zuma-s-home-in-Nkandla-bove-Part-of-the-20-unit-luxury-compound-built-close-to-P-fiona-stent-the-president-Jacob-Zuma-s-house-as-part-of-the-R232-million-expansion-Top-The-Zuma-homestead-and-surroundings-in-2009-left-and-the-development-as-it-looks-now-right-Pictures-DOCTOR-NGCOBO-and-GCINA-NDWALANE-Picture-DOCTOR-NGCOBO?source=https://xlibris.public.prod.oc.inl.infomaker.io:8443/opencontent/objects/018f3e63-85b1-5c6b-a279-cf225280c919)
Cape Town - The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is delaying the release of the final Nkandla report and trying to find a diplomatic way to present it, the DA charged on Friday.
Democratic Alliance MP James Selfe said reports that the SIU had delayed the release of its final report on the R246 million upgrade of President Jacob Zuma’s private homestead at Nkandla, in KwaZulu-Natal, was concerning.
“It is equally suspicious that the SIU has now noted 'certain circumstances which are outside of its control' as the reason for this delay...,” Selfe said in a statement.
“South Africans deserve access to the full report, so that they can interrogate its findings, and its accuracy. Especially since the provisional report was a complete whitewash.”
Investigations followed the release of a report by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, which found Zuma unduly benefited from the upgrade. She recommended that Zuma pay for some of the improvements out of his own pocket.
Zuma said he would respond once the SIU's investigation was completed.
On June 12, the SIU confirmed it had submitted a provisional report to Zuma.
The unit said it had until recently indicated it hoped its report would be completed by the end of June.
“Regrettably, as a result of certain circumstances which are completely outside its control, the unit will no longer be able to meet this deadline,” spokesman Boy Ndala said.
The SIU said it hoped the report would be released soon.
Selfe said if the public did not get access to the report, this would point to a continuation of the cover-up of the Nkandla scandal.
“The DA will not let this happen. I will urgently write to the head of the SIU Mr Vasantrai Soni, and request that he furnish me with all the reasons for the delay, including 'the special circumstances' that was referred to... as well as clarify whether or not the full report will be made public,” he said.
Sapa