Revamping President Jacob Zuma’s official residence in Pretoria is expected to cost R191-million, the department of public works says.
Zuma would also be getting a sauna and a steam room as part of the renovation, the Star newspaper reported on Thursday.
The total value of the refurbishment, building and other work already carried out on Zuma’s offices, official homes in Cape Town and Pretoria, and projects on the Bryntirion ministerial estate, amounted to more than R400-million.
This emerged on Wednesday in written replies by Public Works Minister Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde to parliamentary questions by the Democratic Alliance.
Presidency spokesperson Zanele Mngadi said none of the work had been ordered by Zuma.
“No, the president never gets involved in renovations,” she was quoted as saying in the Star.
“The department of public works is responsible for managing government property, and procurement is done in terms of its procurement policy.”
According to the National Treasury’s Estimates of National Expenditure for 2011, refurbishment on Zuma’s home would start in April, last for 15 months and cost R191-million, with R86-million allocated for the 2011/12 financial year, according to the Star‘s report.
The project entailed upgrading infrastructure such as bulk water, electrical services and roads on the Bryntirion estate. — Sapa