Parliament - The office of the ANC chief whip in Parliament on Thursday welcomed police minister Nathi Nhleko’s report absolving President Jacob Zuma of any liability with regard to security upgardes at his Nkandla homestead in KwaZulu Natal.
“We appreciate the Minister of Police’s elaborate report, with exceptional expert opinion, which went beyond the call by Public Protector’s recommendation,” a statement by chief whip Stone Sizani’s office said.
In March last year, the Public Protector found that Zuma had unduly benefited from security upgrades worth R246 million, and recommended he pay back a portion of the public funds used on the project.
However, Nhleko’s report submitted to Parliament on Thursday contradicted Madonsela’s findings that a cattle kraal, swimming pool, amphitheatre, chicken run, and visitor’s centre were “non-security upgrades”.
“The report [by Nhleko] further conclusively proves that features such as the pool, visitors’ centre and amphitheatre were not erected at the President’s private residence, but in the outer perimeter fence nearby the President’s residence,” the ANC said.
“As such these do not amount to any direct ‘undue benefit’ to the President and his family. The experts who conducted an evaluation for the purpose of this report are highly regarded and independent.”
The ANC said it supported the fast-tracking of processes to establish an ad hoc committee of Parliament to consider Nhleko’s report.
ANA