NKANDLA, Jacob Zuma’s private estate (pictured) in the hills of South Africa’s Zulu heartland, makes for a ramshackle presidential pleasure-dome. The South African public was billed 246m rand ($16.6m) for “security upgrades” to the property, but a tour of the grounds last year revealed shoddy workmanship, barren guardhouses and free-ranging goats. Although still opulent by local standards, the compound’s perimeter fence was broken and it suffered an infestation of snakes. This is, perhaps, salt in the wound of the most enduring scandal of Mr Zuma’s presidency, one that on March 31st found him in violation of South Africa’s constitution, according to a unanimous and scathing decision by the country’s highest court.
The Nkandla scandal has dragged on since the taxpayer-funded renovations were first reported in late 2009. An investigation by the country’s public protector (a position similar to an ombudsman) found that Mr Zuma had unduly benefited from some of the upgrades, including the construction of a swimming pool, a cattle corral and a chicken run. Thuli Madonsela, the public protector, called for Mr Zuma to pay back a share of...Continue reading
Source: Middle East and Africa http://ift.tt/1N0DLQT
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