Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal
Template:Infobox South African town 2011 Nkandla is a town in the uThungulu district of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is the seat of the Nkandla Local Municipality, and the district wherein the residence of the current President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma may be found. Contrary to common perception, the residence is not located in the town of Nkandla but may be found some 40 kilometres to the south beyond the Nkandla Forest and on the road to Kranskop.
The Nkandla region encompasses nearly 115,000 inhabitants, spread relatively sparsely over a large area. Nkandla is mainly a rural area and is in the top five of the poorest places in KwaZulu-Natal province.[citation needed] Poverty is prevalent, with 44% unemployment. The majority of the population are Zulus.
A documentary, "Orphans of Nkandla" by the BBC and Truevision, recounted the hardships and deep poverty of orphans in Nkandla.
Zuma was joined by Nelson Mandela to open Mnyakanya High School in 2004.[1]
Presidential homestead
President Jacob Zuma’s private homestead 28°50′37″S 31°05′56″E / 28.8437104°S 31.0987975°E is situated about 24 km south of Nkandla town centre, on land owned by the Ingonyama Trust, the legal entity that owns the traditional land administered by Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, the Zulu king on behalf of the state for the benefit of its occupants.[2]
Improvements made to homestead
The South African government public works department is building a helipad, underground bunkers, security and their accommodation, and fencing around the entire complex. According to the ministerial handbook, the department can spend R100 000 on security improvements at the private houses of public officials. Any costs above that must be covered by the official. Over R200 000 000 has appeared to be allocated by the department.[2]
Statements by spokesmen have mentioned an apartheid-era law, the National Key Points Act, as explanation for the spending discrepancy, but that spending should come from a different department.[3] The leaked documention also hints at vastly inflated prices for the work done, much of it not going out to tender, and huge consulting fees.[4]
Political fallout
Police prevented Helen Zille from approaching President Jacob Zuma's homestead on November 4, 2012. She intended "to see what a R250-million renovation with public money looks like", but was prevented from approaching by a police line.[5]
Zuma's spokesperson Mac Maharaj said the opposition party adopted a "cowboy style" approach to getting the answers it wanted, and questioned Zille's use of the word 'compound' to describe the homestead.[6]
COSATU, a member of the governing tri-partite alliance, has asked for the overpricing to be reviewed.[7]
Geographic location
Places adjacent to Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal | |
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References
- ^ Mokgola, Thabo (3 March 2004). "South Africa: Zuma, Mandela to open school". South African Government News Agency. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
- ^ a b "Zuma doesn't own Nkandla compound" (2012-10-05) News24
- ^ "I can’t say anything about Nkandla, even I can’t defend it" (8 November 2012) City Press
- ^ "Nkandla prices 'a joke' (10 November 2012) City Press
- ^ "Police stop Zille at Nkandla" (4 November 2012) Mail & Guardian
- ^ "Zille, Mac go at each other over Nkandla" (5 November 2012) Mail & Guardian
- ^ "COSATU wants Public Protector to reveal truth about Nkandla" (12 November 2012) COSATU