The amount for “nonsecurity” upgrades to Nkandla was made know by the Treasury in compliance with an earlier court order in a report submitted to the Constitutional Court on Monday. “The (amount corresponds to a) percentage of R7,814,155 as at June 2009,” the Treasury said in the report.
In a statement on Monday, the Treasury confirmed it had submitted its report but referred all questions to the Constitutional Court.
According to investigations by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, “the total actual expenditure (of Nkandla) had increased from the initial R27 million to R215 million despite the fact that the project remains incomplete, with the current conservative estimation of the final cost being R246 million, excluding lifetime maintenance cost”.
The Constitutional Court ordered in March this year that the National Treasury determine “a reasonable percentage” of the costs of those measures which ought to be paid personally by the President (and) … report back to this court on the outcome of its determination within 60 days of the date of this order”.
The National Treasury has, in line with the court’s order, submitted its report on the President’s homestead in Nkandla to the court. The court also ordered that the Treasury determine the “reasonable costs” of those measures implemented by the Department of Public Works at Zuma’s home, which did not relate to security, like the visitors’ centre, the amphitheatre a cattle kraal, a chicken run and a swimming pool,, which was later declared a reservoir for fire-fighting water.
As soon as the court approves the amount of R7.8-million, Zuma will have to pay back the money within 45 days.
