Minister under fire over Nkandla

139 Home of President Jacob Zuma at KwaNxamalala in Nkandla. 021009. Picture: Bongiwe Mchunu

139 Home of President Jacob Zuma at KwaNxamalala in Nkandla. 021009. Picture: Bongiwe Mchunu

Published Nov 1, 2012

Share

Cape Town -

South Africans had never raised questions about money spent on former presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki’s private residences, but made a fuss about Nkandla, MPs were told on Wednesday.

This was the response of Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi to a barrage of questions from MPs about the upgrades at President Jacob Zuma’s homestead in Nkandla, reported to be costing R230 million.

Nxesi was asked if bulletproof windows and an underground bunker were warranted and whether the security measures were intended to allow Zuma to survive a “prolonged siege”.

Cope MP Paul Mnguni fired off the first question, asking Nxesi how many times his department had met the Department of Defence and Military Veterans to discuss matters relating to Nkandla security measures and the outcomes of the discussions.

“The Department of Public Works, the police and the Department of Defence are meeting on a continuous basis to discuss matters relating to the implementation of security at state facilities, including private and official accommodation of members of the executive,” said Nxesi.

Mbeki received a R3.5m security upgrade to his private home when he left office. The department budgeted R28.2m for security upgrades to Mandela’s Qunu home in the Eastern Cape.

“In all the first citizens or presidents, the same assessments are done by security departments… It’s very interesting that people never asked questions with the previous ones but on this one they are asking,” said Nxesi.

As for the private housing of members of the executive, he said the department “does not engage in that”.

“And relating to issues of bunkers, the Department of Public Works cannot comment on that,” said Nxesi.

He said MPs should “not rely on propaganda in the papers but rely on what we say as a department”.

Political Bureau

Related Topics: