Durban -
President Jacob Zuma’s Pinetown-based architect is to be investigated by the South African Council for the Architectural Profession for his role in the Nkandla project.
The decision to investigate Minenhle Makhanya was taken last week after his role was highlighted in the government’s Special Investigating Unit report.
Makhanya was paid R16.5 million to work on the president’s rural home in Zululand.
In her Nkandla report, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela said Makhanya benefited inappropriately from work on the president’s home, even saying the architect was the go-between for government officials and the president.
Marella O’Reilly, registrar for the council, said that in terms of section 28(1) of the Architectural Profession Act 44 of 2000, the council had to refer any matter against a registered person to an investigating committee when it believed it had reasonable grounds to suspect impropriety.
O’Reilly said that given these provisions, the council had resolved to refer the Nkandla matter to its investigating committee.
“The investigation will be comprehensive and is likely to take some time. The question of whether a disciplinary tribunal would ultimately take place can be determined only once council has considered the investigating committee’s report,” she added.
O’Reilly said speculation would be premature.
However, if Makhanya was found guilty, O’Reilly said the act provided for various sanctions.
These included a caution or reprimand, a fine or the cancellation of his registration and the removal of his name from the register.
Apart from Makhanya’s case, the council has also referred the collapse of the Tongaat mall to its investigating committee.
The Mercury