DA enraged over Nkandla ‘upgrades’
But Presidency denies any renovations at homestead
DA LEADER Mmusi Maimane, has said that not a single one of the 14 companies involved in the scandalous upgrades at Nkandla has been blacklisted, or “placed on the restricted supplier database”.
“Minister of Public Works Nathi Nhleko has revealed that eight of the 14 companies contracted to carry out the infamous upgrades to Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla homestead have since been rehired by the department to perform other work, notwithstanding their involvement in the R250 million scandal,” said Maimane.
Maimane said Nhleko also confirmed that “not a single one” of these companies had been blacklisted or “placed on the restricted supplier database”. Maimane said in his reply to a DA written parliamentary question that the public works minister confirmed that from August 1, 2014, to date, the companies – who were involved in the Nkandla upgrades – have been again contracted by the department:
“This is a shocking revelation considering the Constitutional Court found these upgrades to be fraught with corruption and unlawful enrichment, and again proves that the more connected and corruptible you are, the more valuable to the ANC government you become, and the more illegitimate money you can make,” said Maimane.
The DA would refer “this matter” to the Chief Procurement Officer at the National Treasury to immediately intervene and conduct an assessment as to whether any of the companies involved has breached the Supply Change Management (SCM) policy and/or the National Treasury Regulations.
“We are adamant that any company or individual who unduly benefited from carrying out work at Nkandla must be blacklisted and held accountable for their actions,” said the DA leader.
“We also note the suspicious U-turn by minister Nhleko, whereby he cancelled a press briefing in which he planned to ‘set the record straight’ on further upgrades to President Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla homestead.” Maimane said no reasons were given for the cancellation. “I will therefore be submitting written questions to the minister, seeking an explanation for the proposed new upgrades at Nkandla.
“I wish to once again make it clear that the DA rejects any new or further upgrades to the president’s Nkandla home, regardless of how they are described or categorised by national government. We maintain that not another cent of taxpayers’ money must be spent at Nkandla for the benefit of one man,” Maimane said. “The DA will not stop until all those who are involved in corruption and any abuse of public funds are held to the highest account.”
The Presidency denied there were any further renovations at taxpayers’ expense to Nkandla. “The Presidency has noted with concern a report about alleged plans by the Department of Public Works to renovate certain aspects of the president’s Nkandla residence.” The Presidency said there were no renovations of the private houses at his residence at Nkandla currently and no government department had indicated any proposal for renovations. – ANA