Nxesi continues to argue swimming pool is a "fire pool"

27 May 2016

The Minister of Public Works, Thulas Nxesi, has once again blindly spouted the ANC’s ridiculous party line that the swimming pool at Nkandla is a security feature built for firefighting. He also admitting not doing due diligence throughout this debacle.

Specifically, in his response to a DA parliamentary question regarding non-security upgrades, he pointed to the explanation by the South African Police Service (SAPS) that the swimming pool, cattle kraal, chicken run and other features, were security-related upgrades. 

That Minister Nxesi persists in advancing this narrative that has been debunked by the Public Protector and confirmed by the Constitutional Court; is evidence that he is not fit and proper person to hold this position. Accordingly, his reprimand should’ve been more serious that a one line letter to Parliament and must be sanctioned for this negligence that has been compounded by his untruthfulness.

The DA and the South African people are not fooled and see this for exactly what it is: a swimming pool. As was asserted by the President himself at the last question session.

I specifically asked if his Department, at any stage, asked for an explanation as to why the Security Cluster had ordered non-security upgrades at the homestead. He admitted that his Department did not ask for an explanation of the rationale behind non-security upgrades ordered by the Security Cluster. The justification provided by the SAPS was only forthcoming after the fact, once the Task Team had requested an explanation. 

Clearly the Department failed to monitor the goings-on during this Nkandlagate debacle and that all Ministers and officials implicated in this scandal should be properly reprimanded for the abuse of almost R300 million of ordinary South Africans’ money.

I will write to the Minister to ask him for an explanation as to when the Department of Public Works became aware that these non-security upgrades we being made to President Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla homestead Further, the Minister needs to answer why the Department did not ask for an explanation of these upgrades at the time they were proposed. Furthermore, I will ask him to outline the changes his Department has made, or will make, to ensure that such a lapse of accountability does not occur in future.

On 03 August all South Africans have the opportunity to vote for a DA government and its public representatives who put the people of South Africa first and are diligent in making sure the peoples’ money is not abused for President Jacob Zuma and those close to him as has been the case throughout his tenure. South Africans should vote for DA governments that will bring change that stops corruption.

Issued by Patricia Kopane, DA Shadow Minister of Public Works, 27 May 2016