Main points of the Nkandla report
Get the bite-sized version of Public Prosecutor Thuli Madonsela’s Nkandla report.
PUBLIC Protector Thuli Madonsela has unpacked her report on President Jacob Zuma’s security upgrades at his Nkandla home, and at 443 pages, 12 sections, it is a monster. If you want to know what’s happening but are too busy to pay attention to the whole live broadcast/live-tweeting thing, here’s a bite-sized summary of are the juiciest bits so far:
* Police minister Nathi Mthethwa, and others, are found to be guilty of improper conduct and maladministration.
* Zuma has “unduly benefited” from the upgrades to his Nkandla residence. He also misled parliament, but made an honest “bona fide” mistake.”
* A substantial amount of money would have been saved had Zuma raised concern of amount. Initially the Nkandla upgrades were supposed to cost the government R27 million. With construction not yet complete, the total cost of Nkandla homestead will be at least R246 million.
* Upgrades like cattle kraal, chicken run, amphitheatre, visitor centre shouldn’t have been built. Zuma must pay for the non-security upgrades at his home, which include a visitors’ centre, an amphitheatre, a swimming pool, a cattle kraal, a culvert, a chicken run and extensive paving.
* Organs of state failed dismally to follow Supply Chain Management prescripts. The state violated the constitution by using funds from Public Works: service delivery budget for Nkandla.
* Zuma’s private architect earned R16.5-million from project.
* Madonsela asked President Zuma to report to Parliament with comments and actions on her report within 14 days.
* National Key Points Act was “inexplicably dragged in” halfway through the Nkandla project, but it wasn’t applied correctly.
The DA has announced it will lay criminal charges at the Nkandla police station tomorrow, March 20, following the release of the Public Protector’s Nkandla report today.
The delegation will include DA National Spokesperson, Mmusi Maimane, DA Federal Chairperson, Wilmot James, DA Deputy Federal Chairperson, Makashule Gana, DA Youth Leader, Mbali Ntuli, KZN Leader, Sizwe Mchunu, and KZN Chairperson, Haniff Hoosen. The DA will arrive at the Nkandla SAPS at 11am.
