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Cape Town - The EFF, which has been spearheading the demand for President Jacob Zuma to pay for the upgrading of his Nkandla homestead, on Thursday said it would not let up despite Police Minister Nathi Nhleko's ruling that Zuma won't have to pay anything.
Nhleko ruled that the upgrades, which opposition parties have slammed as lavish and wasteful, were legitimate security features. It includes a swimming pool and kraal.
"The state president is therefore not liable to pay for any of these security features," he said.
Nhleko said the swimming pool, which he called a "fire pool", was needed for fire-fighting purposes and the kraal was required to prevent cattle and chickens from setting off motion detectors.
His briefing included a video presentation on the use of a swimming pool for pumping water to contain blazes.
The construction of an amphitheatre had also been questioned, but Nhleko said it was needed as an emergency assembly point for family members and workers who reside at Nkandla.
A visitor's centre was defended on the grounds that the president often met people of importance at his private residence and their security needed to be considered.
Opposition Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane said the report was "an insult to the South African people" and a "cover up".
"The DA will not allow the President to get away with the theft of public funds. We have, therefore, referred the matter to our legal team for the consideration of the rationale of Minister Nhleko’s determination, and our constitutional and legal remedies," he said.
'Failed propaganda spin'
Julius Malema, leader of the EFF, which has made the chant "pay back the money" its political battle cry, said his party would not let the issue go.
EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi described the report a "failed propaganda spin".
"The minister and the executive are seeking to undermine the public’s intelligence with their conclusion that President Zuma does not have to pay any money, and that in fact he needs more money for security upgrades," Ndlozi said.
The ANC, meanwhile, on Thursday said a multi-party ad-hoc committee would be established in Parliament to scrutinise the report.
Nhleko's findings contrast to those of Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, who investigated the upgrades, which cost R246m.
She said last year that Zuma had benefited unduly from the upgrades to his Nkandla home and recommended he pay back some of the money.
