AN INTER-ministerial report about controversial security upgrades to President Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla home in KwaZulu-Natal will not be released this week as planned, the government said on Monday.
Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi and security-cluster ministers were scheduled to release the report at a media briefing on Tuesday, said acting government spokeswoman Phumla Williams.
"However, in view of preparations for the state funeral of former president Nelson Mandela, the government is unable to release the report this week," she said.
The Cabinet ordered the release of the initially top secret report on Thursday.
The decision followed an attack by the African National Congress (ANC) on Public Protector Thuli Madonsela about the timing of her own report on the R206m upgrade at Mr Zuma’s private homestead.
"(We have) endorsed the recommendations and directed that the report be released to the public," the Cabinet said last week.
Earlier this year, Mr Nxesi classified the report, saying it would put Mr Zuma’s safety at risk if released.
A parliamentary committee’s findings on the report indicated that it exculpated Mr Zuma finding no evidence that taxpayers’ money had been used to pay for his private home — as he has insisted in statements to the National Assembly.
The Mail & Guardian reported that Ms Madonsela’s preliminary report found Mr Zuma had misled Parliament and benefited substantially from about R20m worth of work that had nothing to do with security features, including a swimming pool.
The story led to the ANC accusing Ms Madonsela of leaking the preliminary report and pressing her to release the final version urgently, or be accused of playing politics if it emerged too close to next year’s general elections.
Ms Madonsela condemned the leak.
- Sapa
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