Minister offers new spin on Nkandla

After four investigations, yet another dimension has emerged regarding the upgrades to President Jacob Zuma’s private residence at Nkandla, says a Business Day report. Police Minister Nathi Nhleko said yesterday the bulk of the spending on Nkandla was on 21 houses built outside Zuma’s property for members of the SAPS and SA National Defence Force. The Minister questioned the origins of the instruction to erect these homes, now mostly standing vacant, at a cost of R135m. He asked why the cost was billed as part of the security upgrade of the residence. Nhleko defended his report, which exonerates Zuma from paying anything towards the R246m upgrade, saying only R50.5m was spent on actual security features and even former President Nelson Mandela’s home in Qunu had a ‘fire pool’ and a culvert. Nhleko said about R20.7m was spent on consultants and R135.2m was committed to the 21 homes constructed for members of the SAPS and SANDF.