President Jacob Zuma was on Thursday let off the hook on paying back the money used for upgrades at his private homestead in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal.
Police Minister Nkonsinathi Nhleko said at a press conference that the R246m upgrades were legitimate security features. He explained why the amphitheatre, cattle kraal and visitors’ centre were essential, and even went on to show a demonstration video of why the firepool was needed.
News of this was met by a nationwide uproar and social media was the first to blow up.
Twitter user Desiree De Verneuil asked: “Why did it take so long to give an explanation for each security upgrade at Nkandla if the intentions were true from the start?”
The final Nkandla report comes over a year after Public Protector Thuli Madonsela released her report which said Zuma and his family had unduly benefitted from the upgrades and that a part of money should be paid back.
Truth is,majority of sane #ANC members know for sure that #Nkandla upgrades are wrong,but they just have to play "see no evil".
— Mongezi (@MongeziPeter) May 29, 2015
This #NkandlaReport is Never a Surprise Or a mistake. You voted for ANC , What were you expecting? #Nkandla pic.twitter.com/EYUP88E72s
— IG: BarryRouxLaw (@Barry_Roux) May 28, 2015
It is hard being a proud South African today, the #NkandlaReport & the deafening silence from rational ANC supporters is depressing.
— Warren Ingram (@WarrenIngram) May 29, 2015
We can tweet our outrage until our fingers are stumps & make not one iota of difference to giggling #Zuma #Nkandla https://t.co/4CCPCbWovL
— MNxaba (@PlanetZuma) May 29, 2015
There's no need to agitate the PP to make further comments on Nkandla. She's done what she needed to do. Ball is in our court
— Mbhazima Shilowa (@Enghumbhini) May 29, 2015
Pls stop wasting our money with more courts and enquiries on Nkandla... DA, EFF and others... please get over it. fight Etolls or something.
— millicent selale (@milliselale) May 29, 2015
So about that pool... #NkandlaReport pic.twitter.com/Ta1TlOaPXi
— NandosSA (@NandosSA) May 28, 2015
#Nkandla is a grave moral and ethical leadership lapse of our times.
— Thabani Mkhize (@ThabzzM) May 29, 2015
Dear SAns, also taxes are needed for king Zwelithini and his extravagant lifestyle, so keep those taxes coming
— Outside Graduate (@LeboneMakhale) May 29, 2015
Nkandla - noun transparent dishonest conduct by those in power
— Damon Leff (@damonleff) May 29, 2015
If Police Min Nathi Nhleko wasnt a politician, he would have been serious competition to @Trevornoah. His Nkandla explanations were so funny
— FlipMouersZA (@FlipMouers) May 29, 2015
, Some of this #Nkandla stuff is making me laugh, but it is literally going to make us the world's laughing stock. Deeply shameful.
— Nicole Lee Graham (@NicoleGraham031) May 28, 2015
When you set your Security Chicken loose at Nkandla. #Nkandla #NkandlaReport pic.twitter.com/ne59tvX0R4
— IG: BarryRouxLaw (@Barry_Roux) May 29, 2015
#Zuma gave us the middle finger with #nkandla, now we give the #ANC the middle finger with #etolls. #SouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/awTwmFUKLL
— Alien (@nationalienate) May 21, 2015