Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu has criticised the expansion of President Jacob Zuma's home in Nklandla, it was reported on Wednesday.
"Who in their right minds could have approved the expenditure of more than R200m? And to do it in that area, where you have this nice place standing up and just around there the squalor and poverty," said Tutu.
"What is the matter with us?"
The Star newspaper reported that Tutu was speaking at the unveiling of a bench and tree in memory of struggle stalwart Kader Asmal at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens on Saturday.
A video of the event was shown to reporters on Tuesday.
He told National Planning Minister Trevor Manuel, who attended the event: "You don't belong in this government."
Tutu expressed concern about the state of education, the failure to deliver textbooks in Limpopo earlier this year and the recently released results of the National Assessments, which showed that Grade 9 maths pupils scored on average 13%.
"Trevor, you tell your boss this old man who said he was retired, I am going to come back.
"You tell him that this old man is now going to pray like he prayed for the Nats [the National Party, which enforced apartheid]."
Zuma's private residence has recently been upgraded, at a reported cost of R200m. The matter is currently being investigated by a public works task team.
- SAPA
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