/ 2 April 2014

Zuma to comment on Nkandla report once SIU probe is done

Zuma To Comment On Nkandla Report Once Siu Probe Is Done

President Jacob Zuma undertook on Wednesday to give Parliament a "further report" on "decisive executive interventions" on his private Nkandla home.

He would do so after receiving a report from the Special Investigating Unit he had directed to probe security upgrades at Nkandla, the presidency said in a statement.

"President Jacob Zuma has today, April 2 2014, submitted a response to the speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Max Sisulu, in relation to the report of the public protector on the security upgrades at his Nkandla residence," the presidency said.

It noted that three state agencies – the public protector, the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster of Cabinet and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) – had all "inquired into the same subject matter".

"The president has decided that he will give a full and proper consideration to all the matters before him and, upon receipt of the SIU report, will provide Parliament with a further report on the decisive executive interventions that he would consider to be appropriate," the presidency said.

"The president remains concerned about the allegations of maladministration and impropriety around procurement in the Nkandla project, in particular the allegations of cost inflation."

Ongoing investigation
SIU spokesperson Boy Ndala told Sapa on Wednesday that his unit's investigation was still ongoing and would be completed at the end of next month. He said the status of the report – shown on the SIU's website as "completed" – was not correct.

"It's incorrect. Its status is still ongoing." Asked when the report would be completed, he responded: "It's going to be at the end of May."

Among the report's findings are that Zuma unduly benefited from the upgrades to his KwaZulu-Natal homestead, and that he should pay back a portion of the money.

The Democratic Alliance said this was nothing more than a delaying tactic. "This effectively means that an elected head of state is openly playing games with the Parliament which elected him; as well as the country's public protector, who is constitutionally empowered to take remedial action against him," DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko said in a statement.

"Indeed, his decision to wait for the Special Investigating Unit investigation to be finalised before reporting back to Parliament on what steps he will take – given the very clear recommendations set out in the public protector's report – is nothing more than a delaying tactic."

Mazibuko said his decision to wait for the SIU report implied a lack of trust in chapter nine institutions. "The truth is that President Zuma is running away from accountability. We won't let this happen without a fight.

"We will continue to push on with our impeachment motion, and we will continue to seek legal advice on what steps can be taken to force the president to abide by these recommendations," said Mazibuko.

Avoiding responsibilities
Freedom Front Plus chief whip Corne Mulder accused Zuma of avoiding his responsibilities before general elections on May 7.

"If Zuma is so innocent and ignorant about the Nkandla issue as he alleges, he now had the ideal opportunity to prove his innocence in Parliament. He chooses not to do it," Mulder said.

"It is unthinkable that South Africans will be going to the ballot boxes on May 7 with this cloud hanging over the head of the president and the number one candidate of the ANC."

Speaking during a door-to-door campaign in the Cape Town suburb of Gugulethu last Sunday, Zuma said he had not been told about the upgrades to his Nkandla home, which included a swimming pool, cattle kraal, chicken coop and amphitheatre. "They did this without telling me … So why should I pay for something I did not ask for?" he reportedly told a local private television station at the time. – Sapa