Holomisa asks for addendum to costs for Nkandla

Johannesburg - United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa believes an addendum should be made to the amount President Jacob Zuma is required to pay for non-security upgrades to his private Nkandla home.

This followed a report by the Sunday Times last month that a dossier compiled by former deputy director general of public works Rachard Samuel, revealed that a further R4.6m was spent on non-security features.

According to the newspaper, the dossier contained invoices showing that state money had been used to pay for things such as thatching, meranti and aluminum doors and window frames, tiles, paint, plastering, air-conditioning and unexplained extras.

Holomisa on Monday sent a letter to Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, outlining these.

In the letter, he said he was aware that her office was not granted access to the information, however, it was now in the public domain.

"I believe that your office has the authority to summon this information, and approach the Office of the Chief Justice for a proper guidance on how to deal with the new exposé," he wrote in the letter.

"If this information is true, as I believe, then it should help the National Treasury in making a proper determination of the costs to be personally paid by the president."

Madonsela's spokesperson Kgalalelo Masibi confirmed that the Public Protector had received Holomisa's letter. She would assess what she was required to do.

Last week, the Constitutional Court ordered that the National Treasury determine the reasonable cost of the non-security features - namely the swimming pool, chicken run, cattle kraal, amphitheatre and vistors' centre.

Secondly, it had to determine how much of this amount Zuma should pay.

It also ordered that the Public Protector's findings against Zuma were binding in terms of the Constitution.

This article first appeared on News24 – see here.