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Nkandla – what we could have bought

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On Wednesday 19 March, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela found that the ANC in government spent R246 million upgrading President Jacob Zuma’s private home at Nkandla.

Amongst her conclusions, she found that:

  • President Zuma was guilty of conduct inconsistent with the office of the President
  • That the upgrades amounted to “opulence at a grand scale”
  • That in order to upgrade his home, funds were taken away from the “inner-city regeneration project” of the department of public works,
  • That installations such as the visitors centre, cattle kraal, chicken run, swimming pool and the amphitheatre at the Nkandla homestead could not be accepted as security measures,
  • and that he and his family benefitted personally from the upgrades.

R246 million rand could have helped a lot of people. It could have paid for:

  • Three years of study, accommodation and meals for 1,000 university students.
  • RDP houses for 2,000 families.
  • 24 years of legal support for the Marikana families
  • 7 new schools
  • 1,230 nurses

But instead, the ANC in government chose to spend this money on the President. It is corrupt to spend R246 million rand on one man, when so many people in South Africa are struggling and suffering. The ANC could easily have stopped this project. They have even recalled a sitting president. But instead of doing what’s right, they are defending spending all of this money on the President.

ANC NEC member Jeff Radebe said after the report was released, that:

  • the swimming pool, which has steps and chlorinated water, is a “fire pool”,
  • that the amphitheater is a “retaining wall” and,
  • that the R1 million cattle kraal is an “essential security feature”.

Corrupt projects like Nkandla proves that the ANC has changed. It’s no longer the party of Mandela and Mbeki. Zuma’s ANC only care about enriching themselves. That’s why corruption is everywhere and people can’t find jobs. That’s why the progress we made since 1994 is being reversed.

We can’t stand by for another five years and watch Zuma’s ANC get richer, while the poor get poorer. It’s time to restart progress to a better life. A DA government will cut corruption and create jobs.

So vote DA in May 2014 – and let’s work together for change, together for jobs.

Dean Biddulph

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Ward 2

Councillor Dean Biddulph (Democratic Alliance) Ward 2: Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality Tel: 041 582 2015 / 082 559 6158 Fax: 041 585 1364 E-Mail: ward2[at]mandelametro.gov.za "Men make history, and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better." Harry S. Truman Ward 2 covers the following areas: 11 Ave Summerstrand, Avondale Rd up to Western Rd Central, Foresthill, Humewood, Uppervalley.