Calls for establishment of ad hoc committee as President’s Nkandla report tabled

President Javcob Zuma’s report on the security upgrades for his private residence in Nkandla has been tabled in Parliament, appearing in the Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports (ATC) today. The report has been tabled after the President missed the 30-day deadline declared by the ANC’s chief whip’s office on 5 July. The report addresses the Public Protector’s finding that the President and his family have “unduly benefited” from non-security upgrades to his Nkandla homestead.

Furthermore, the report also responds to the investigations carried out by the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI), and Special Investigating Unit (SIU).

In his reply, President Zuma talks to his “personal circumstances and role in the security upgrades” at his family home, explaining that as he began to play a more leading role in government, he “had to submit to security protocols which senior government executives are subjected to” – which meant the provision of static security from the South African Police Services (SAPS), constructing additional rondavels on his homestead for guests with car ports and store rooms, and “extensive and modern improvements to the property”.

In 2009, after he became President, members of the security cluster engaged with him regarding security requirements at his Nkandla homestead. It was also after this point that he was advised to declare the homestead a National Security Keypoint.

“I was advised at some stage of the need to declare the homestead as a National Security Key Point. Whilst I took no exception to such declaration, I was not intimately involved with the finer details,” said Zuma in his report.

Zuma says that a “proper appraisal” of the commissioning of the security upgrades and expenditure should include an examination of the conduct of the Executive as measured against the Constitution, and that government has adopted measures to ensure compliance with the legislative framework and the review and determination of best practices.

However, he also states that, “What appears apparent is that whilst a legislative framework exists, it was either deficient in certain respects, wholly ignored, or miss-applied.”

Zuma calls on the Minister of Police to report to Cabinet on whether the President is liable for any contribution in respect of the security upgrades, while the Minister of Public Works was called upon to report to Cabinet on the review of the protocols and procedures regarding procurement, expenditure and oversight applicable to prestige projects.

Parliamentary Leader of the DA, Mmusi Maimane, released a press statement regarding the report saying that it “undermines” the Public Protector’s findings, and that the President has attempted to “avoid accountability” in the Nkandla scandal.

Maimane goes on to say that it was unclear whether the President has reprimanded the ministers that were involved “in the appalling manner in which state funds were abused” – as per the Public Protector’s request. He said that the President’s failure to act on the Public Protector’s recommendations could be deemed unconstitutional, citing Section 181 (3) of the Constitution of the Republic - all organs of state, including the Presidency, are enjoined: “to assist and protect [Chapter Nine] institutions to ensure the independence, impartiality, dignity and effectiveness of these institutions.”

There has been speculation that an ad hoc parliamentary committee will be formed to deal with the President’s report, however, this has not been confirmed. According to a statement made by Parliament, the report will be dealt with when the institution reconvenes.

However, the DA has now called on the Speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete, to “urgently” announce the formation of an ad hoc committee to consider the Public Protector’s report as well as the President’s reply.

“It is time, once and for all, to ensure that all those responsible – including President Zuma – are made to answer for their involvement in this abhorrent abuse of public funds,” said Maimane.

The ANC welcomed the submission of the report and noted that this “allows Parliament to swiftly subject it to an appropriate parliamentary mechanism for official consideration”.

Parliament will resume next week after a brief recess break and this matter will be at the forefront for the next while.

Prior to the elections, Parliament had established an ad hoc committee to deal with the matter. However, the committee deferred its work to the Fifth Parliament owing to time constraints.

For President Zuma’s full report, click here.