Durban - Regardless of the controversies that have surrounded President Jacob Zuma and his Nkandla home, which cost the taxpayers a staggering R215 million on security upgrades, he still remains a “hero” to locals in his home town.
The Sunday Tribune visited the dusty village of Nkandla on Saturday and spoke to locals about their neighbour not having to pay back any money for the upgrades at his private home as announced by Police Minister Nathi Nhleko this week.
Some were not even aware that Nhleko’s report had cleared Zuma of any wrongdoing while Public Protector Thuli Madonsela had found that he had unduly benefited from the security upgrades to his home.
To them Zuma has done nothing untoward. They described him as a person who had sacrificed a lot for the country and his village and were angry with claims that Zuma had unduly benefited and had to pay back a certain portion of the money.
Mlandeni Lembhede, 36, who was born and bred in Nkandla, said: “I don’t care what the reports say about Nxamalala (Zuma). He can’t live in a rondavel that is collapsing because he is from Nkandla. President Zuma has done well and he is still doing great things for us here in Nkandla. We don’t have a problem with him living in a lavish home,” said Lembhede.
Another resident, Muntukayiboni Zwane, who has been living in Nkandla for more than 57 years, said: “I personally don’t have any problem with Zuma’s house. At the end of the day he is the president of the country and what do you expect? He is being targeted because he hails from the rural village of Nkandla,” he said.
Zinhle Mthethwa, 40, mother of three, who resides in a one-room mud rondavel, said Zuma had been a shining light for the locals.
“He gives our kids school uniforms. He has not forgotten where he comes from.”
She added that life had changed for them since Zuma had been elected president of the country.
“We have taps in our yards and there are three clinics in the area, all thanks to Zuma,” said Mthethwa.
The long-awaited report by the police minister, who also serves on the executive of the ANC, was made public earlier this week.
On Friday, the office of the public protector issued a statement saying: “The shortcomings of the minister’s report are partly due to the fact that the minister is a member of an executive, whose members, including the minister’s supervisor, are among the public functionaries found to have acted improperly in the report.”
While Zuma has been cleared of any wrongdoing the lawyer representing Nkandla architect Minenhle Makhanya said they were weighing their options based on Nhleko’s recent announcement.
Makhanya faces a R155m claim by the state for overcharging and waste during his work on Zuma’s Nkandla home.
His lawyer, Barnabas Xulu, said Nhleko’s report was lengthy and one could not be expected to go through everything and analyse it overnight.
“We are studying the report thoroughly. We have also noted that the report was supported by the Minister of Public Works who was our client,” said Xulu.
He said following the SIU’s investigations, Makhanya’s company had been facing difficulties.
Meanwhile the union representing the 11 Public Works officials facing charges relating to money spent on Nkandla said the ruling had no bearing on its members.
Public Servants Association labour relations officer Roshan Lil-Ruthan said: “We are not interested in the politics regarding what happened. Our interest is on the case to present for our members. It could take a very long time before we go to court again.”
Sunday Tribune