President Jacob Zuma’s home in KwaNxamalala, Nkandla.
The government spent R206 million on security
upgrades and consultants for President Jacob Zuma’s
Nkandla home, Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi
said on Sunday.
Included in this amount was R135 million for "operational
needs", R71 million for consultants and security features
such as bullet proof windows, security fencing, evacuation
mechanisms, and firefighting equipment, he told reporters in
Pretoria.
Also included in the total was R26 million to make changes
to the project (variation orders).
The "operational needs" included medical facilities and
accommodation for various government departments.
Of the R71 million around R50 million was for the actual
security upgrade and R20 million was paid to consultants.
However no houses were built using public money.
"There is no evidence that any house belonging to the
president was built with public money," Nxesi said,
following an investigation by a task team.
Nxesi was joined by Justice Minister Jeff Radebe, Police
Minister Nathi Mthethwa and State Security Minister
Siyabonga Cwele.
There were however irregularities in the appointment of the
15 service providers and consultants who worked on the
project.
"It is very clear that there were a number of irregularities
with regards to appointment of service providers and
procurement of goods and services."
In view of the irregularities the task team’s report would be
handed to the Special Investigation Unit, the Auditor
General and the SA Police Service for further investigation,
Nxesi said.
"If there are any professionals who are found to have acted
unethically [they] will be reported to their respective
professional bodies."
The task team was appointed in November after the costs
of Zuma’s residential complex caused an outcry. The matter
was also raised in Parliament.
Nxesi said Zuma’s home, like those of former presidents
and former deputy presidents, had been declared a national
key point.
The task team was told to ascertain in detail the security
assessments and recommendations made by state security
agencies.
"The investigation revealed that an approval was granted to
the regional bid adjudication committee to adopt a
negotiated nomination procedure in appointing contractors,
despite this being a national project," Nxesi said.
Mthethwa said the amount spent on security was justified.
"At the point of [the security threat] assessment and at the
conclusion [it became clear] that these are the kind of
things we need for assessment and they need to be
adhered to," he said.
Cwele said neither Zuma nor his family had an input on the
security upgrade.
"They were not involved with the design and installation of
security measures."
Nxesi said Zuma was informed of the security upgrades,
but did not know any of the details.
"The details are with public works, informed by what comes
from the security department."
Radebe reiterated this saying: "The president was not
involved and no money was used for the upgrade of the
residence."
Nxesi said the full report would not be made public as
security features at national key points were protected in
terms of the National Key Points Act.
"We took this unprecedented approach to inform the public
about the specific project to quell some of the
misconceptions which have been falsely peddled in the
public space. We do not disclose any security measures
pertaining to the national key points, as required by law," he
said.
Source: timeslive.co.za/local/2013/01/27/r206m-spent-on-nkandla-nxesi
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