There has been angry reaction to the story broken by The Star about President Jacob Zuma and his former wife owing R120 000 on levies for services.
The money is owed to the City of Joburg for two flats he owns in Berea.
Outraged residents have accused him of slumlording by having nine tenants living in one of his flats.
Val Hughes said his excuses held no water. “It’s all very well for him to say a managing agent was taking care of the properties, but surely he checks on them to see what is happening?”
Another reader, who wished to remain anonymous, said Zuma should lead by example. “How can he own two flats, one of them filled with nine people, and he does not know about it? This is slumlording at its best, even if he didn’t collect the rent. Someone should be held accountable. Does he have so much money that he can afford to forget he owns two flats in Berea?”
The DA has also slammed Zuma’s arrears. “Councillors in the City of Joburg are dismissed if they have arrears of more than three months,” said Susan Mottram, a DA councillor who has been trying to assist residents with unfair cut-offs by the council.
“We have all recently been threatened with disconnection of services, even though 19 of us have valid queries on our bills. Why is an exception being made with the president?”
Meanwhile, despite assurances from Zuma’s spokesman Mac Maharaj, who said the issue would be addressed immediately, no attempt had been made to do so. The administrators were still refusing to speak to The Star, but confirmed there had been no progress on the matter.
Power to the entire block of flats in which Zuma’s units are situated, Saratoga Gardens, was cut three weeks ago because of a R1.8 million arrears.
* The Star reported on Wednesday that Clayson Monyela was Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s spokesman – it is in fact Ronnie Mamoepa. The Star apologises for the error.
- The Star
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