R100m renovations at ministerial homes probed

The renovations, deemed 'general repairs', cost an average of R9m a house. While the department would not give details about the location of the houses, for security reasons, the newspaper understands a number are in the Groote Schuur Estate in Rondebosch, and in other parts of the southern suburbs. The report says that according to figures from Propstats, the average selling price for Rondebosch houses last year was around R3.2m. The highest price fetched was R7m for a three-bedroom, three-bathroom house on a 1 292m² erf. Last week, notes the report, Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi detailed widespread corruption in his department, particularly in its leasing and prestige portfolios. The prestige portfolio relates to accommodation and office space for government departments, ministers, deputy ministers, senior judges and members of Parliament. Full Weekend Argus report

Staying with the spending of public money on politicians' homes: President Jacob Zuma has declined to 'discuss the details' of the Public Works Department's R206m security upgrade to his Nkandla homestead, according to a report on the Mail & Guardian Online site. It notes the outcome of pending reports on the matter should be awaited instead, he told the National Assembly during question time yesterday (Wednesday). Zuma also denied receiving a letter about the cost and extent of the upgrade. Full report on the Mail & Guardian Online site