A delay in the release of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU)’s highly anticipated report on Nkandla has been described as highly suspicious.
The SIU says it will not be able to release the document at the end of this month as expected due to circumstances out of its control.
The report looks at the quarter of a billion rand upgrades to President Jacob Zuma’s private KwaZulu-Natal home, which Public Protector Thuli Madonsela labelled “obscene and excessive.”
The protector’s report, which was released in March after a two-year probe, found that Zuma and his family unduly benefitted from the R246 million upgrades.
The document recommended the president account to Parliament and pay back part of the total sum.
SIU decision-makers are reportedly looking for a diplomatic way of presenting the report to the public.
Democratic Alliance Member of Parliament James Selfe says the full report must be made public.
“The fact that the SIU report is now being held back is deeply suspicious. I will be writing to the SIU to request the full report.”
He says the SIU is purposely delaying the release of the document.
“We suspect that delay tactics are at play in much the same way as we have experienced in the spy tapes case.”
SIU spokesperson Boy Ndala wouldn’t be drawn on why the report was delayed.
“We can’t reveal each and every operational aspect of our work.”
He said the SIU is not anticipating the delay to be longer than two weeks.
Zuma said he would provide Parliament with a comprehensive response to Madonsela’s Nkandla report after he received the SIU's report.
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