Zuma must still respond to Madonsela's report

President Jacob Zuma still has to respond to Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's report regarding the security upgrades at his Nkandla private home, her office said on Friday.

"The document that is being disseminated does not respond to the Public Protector's report and, in fact, in the document it says this is not a comment on the Public Protector's report," spokeswoman Kgalalelo Masibi said in an e-mail to Sapa.

"That means a document that comments on the Public Protector's report or indicates action taken or to be taken to implement remedial action in compliance with section 3(5) of the Executive Members Ethics Act must still be submitted to Parliament by the president."

Zuma submitted a response on the upgrades to his home to Speaker of Parliament, Baleka Mbete, on Thursday.

According to the presidency, the report "has been prepared with due consideration of the following reports -- the report of the joint standing committee on intelligence (JSCI), the report of the public protector titled "Secure in Comfort", and the progress report in terms of the Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act submitted by the head of the SIU".

In the response, Zuma requested ministers in the security cluster and the public works minister, Thulas Nxesi, to report to Parliament on their "clearly defined roles and responsibilities" when dealing with the president, the deputy president and their predecessors' security when implementing Cabinet policy.

He said Nxesi should urgently report to Cabinet on the review of protocols and procedures regarding procurement, expenditure and oversight applicable.

Lastly, Zuma said Cabinet should review the 2003 policy on the security of the president, deputy president and their predecessors with a view to setting parameters for implementation.

Earlier this year, Madonsela found that Zuma and his family had unduly benefited from the R236 million upgrades and recommended that he pay back some of the money.

Zuma declined to respond to Madonsela's report in full within the required fortnight and said instead he would wait for the Special Investigating Unit's findings on the upgrades.

- SAPA