Zuma pays State for upgrades of his private home

As ordered by the Constitutional Court, South African President Jacob Zuma has paid 7.8 million rand ($530,000) to the State for non-security upgrades at his private home, the Presidency announced on Monday.

The president raised the amount through a home loan obtained from VBS Mutual Bank on its standard terms, one of the few financial institutions which offer home loans in respect of land owned by traditional authorities, Xinhua quoted presidential spokesperson Bongani Ngqulunga as saying.

Zuma was ordered by the Constitutional Court in March 2016 to pay for the non-security upgrades to be determined by the National Treasury.

Over 246 million rand ($17 million) was allegedly used for the upgrades at Zuma's private home in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal Province.

After an investigation into the project, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela determined last year that the president had unduly benefited on the non-security upgrade of his private home.

Zuma refused to pay, prompting opposition Economic Freedom Fighters and the Democratic Alliance (DA) to launch a court application.

In March, the Constitutional Court ruled that Zuma should pay part of the money spent on non-security upgrades, which include a swimming pool, a visitor centre, an amphitheatre and a chicken run.

--IANS

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