Zuma leaves Nkandla call in Nhleko’s hands
POLICE Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko must decide whether President Jacob Zuma should repay some of the R246m spent on upgrades to his Nkandla residence, Mr Zuma said in his response to Parliament on the controversy — four months after he was required to do so.
Public Protector Thuli Madonsela recommended in her report on Nkandla that Mr Zuma take steps to determine the reasonable cost of items unrelated to the security upgrades at his home and pay back a “reasonable percentage” of these costs.
Her investigation found it was “common cause” that “in the name of security”, the government built a visitors centre, cattle kraal, chicken run, swimming pool and amphitheatre that benefited the president and his family.
Ms Madonsela found Mr Zuma had “tacitly accepted” the implementation of measures that meant he “unduly benefited” from nonsecurity installations at Nkandla.
In his 20-page submission to Parliament yesterday, Mr Zuma said he took exception to the “conflation” of the security upgrades to his Nkandla residence with the construction of buildings to benefit security personnel.
The “security upgrades”, he said, should be distinguished from the “construction of buildings, which provide infrastructural support for security personnel”.
“While neither is at my behest, the latter is directly attributable to the fact of my residence being located in a rural area with all the attendant challenges.
“Persons drawn from rural communities can and do play a role in the development of our constitutional democracy.”
Mr Zuma dealt with three investigations into the Nkandla upgrades: Ms Madonsela’s, the security cluster task team’s and the Special Investigating Unit’s.
He said Mr Nhleko had to report to the Cabinet on his determination about whether Mr Zuma was “liable for any contribution”. To do this Mr Nhleko should pay attention to “legislation, past practices, culture and findings contained in the respective reports”.
Mr Nhleko is responsible for implementing the National Key Points Act. His predecessor, Nathi Mthethwa, was found to have failed to apply his mind when declaring Nkandla a national key point and this failure amounted to improper conduct and maladministration, Ms Madonsela found.
Mr Zuma said Mr Nhleko should also expedite the review of the National Key Points Act and report to the Cabinet “periodically” on his progress.
Democratic Alliance (DA) parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane said yesterday that Mr Zuma’s placing of Mr Nhleko in charge of determining whether he was liable was “blatantly scandalous”, as the minister reports to Mr Zuma.
“President Zuma has attempted to avoid accountability for his role in the Nkandlagate scandal,” Mr Maimane said.
“Not only does his response undermine the public protector’s
findings, but it is also an attempt by the president to act as both judge and jury on this matter.”
African National Congress (ANC) chief whip in Parliament Stone Sizani yesterday “commended the president” for his “comprehensive response”. He said: “The submission of the report today allows Parliament to swiftly subject it to an appropriate parliamentary mechanism for official consideration.”
Mr Zuma also said in his submission that Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi had to “urgently report to Cabinet on the review of protocols and procedures regarding procurement and spending on prestige projects”.
Security cluster ministers, along with Mr Nxesi, should report to the Cabinet on their “clearly defined roles and responsibilities” when dealing with the security of the president and his predecessors.
Mr Zuma also directed the Cabinet to review the Cabinet Policy of 2003, which related to the security of the president, deputy presidents and predecessors.
Speaker of Parliament Baleka Mbete yesterday acknowledged receipt of Mr Zuma’s submission. The report would be published in Parliament’s announcements, tablings and committee reports, and the matter would be dealt with when Parliament reconvened, she said.
Mr Maimane reiterated the DA’s call for Ms Mbete to convene an ad hoc committee on Nkandla, after the initial committee set up in April was dissolved due to the May 7 national and provincial elections.
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