Presidency warns of Zuma Nkandla bill scams

28 June 2016

Cape Town – Scam artists are trying to fleece South Africans by asking them to deposit money into accounts to help President Jacob Zuma pay his R7.8m Nkandla bill, according to the presidency.

"No account has been opened for this purpose and no request has been made for members of the public to contribute," spokesperson Bongani Ngqulunga said on Tuesday.

This after the National Treasury on Monday said Zuma had to pay R7.8m as a "reasonable amount" for the upgrades to his Nkandla homestead.

"The Presidency wishes to alert members of the public to beware of scams on social media where people are asked to deposit money into bank accounts in support of President Jacob Zuma. Such requests have fraudulently been made in light of the submission of the Nkandla homestead non-security upgrades report to the Constitutional Court by the National Treasury," Ngqulunga said.

Treasury submitted its report with one day to spare. It determined that Zuma had to pay R7.8m, based on 2009 prices.

The costs included R2.3m for the so-called firepool, R1m for the amphitheatre, and R1.2m for the cattle kraal.

The Presidency has said it is studying the report.

This article first appeared on News24, see here.