/ 4 August 2012

Mazibuko: How can ANC justify R2bn ‘Zumaville’ project?

An architect's impression of the new scheme for Nkandla.
An architect's impression of the new scheme for Nkandla.

The Democratic Alliance  (DA) offered South Africans jobs while the ANC offered 'Zumaville', parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko said on Saturday.

"How can Zuma explain spending so much money on a single project while many people across the province find themselves without even the most basic services?" Mazibuko said in a speech prepared for delivery.

She was speaking in Kokstad in KwaZulu-Natal about the DA's recently launched Plan for Growth and Jobs.

According to a report on Friday government was planning to build a new R2-billion town in Zuma's home village of Nkandla. The town was dubbed 'Zumaville'.

Government would reportedly have to direct more than R1-billion of taxpayers' money into the development while the other R1-billion would be raised from the private sector.

Mazibuko said Zuma's Nkandla homestead was also being turned into a palace with underground tunnels to ensure his safety.

"The only thing Zuma should be afraid of is the high level of unemployment keeping so many people in KwaZulu-Natal in extreme poverty."

Mazibuko said the department of public works was spending R36-million on Nkandla but "was slow" to help at Kokstad's local hospital. – Sapa.