JOHANNESBURG: South Africa’s government yesterday cleared President Jacob Zuma of any wrongdoing during a controversial $20m revamp at his private home, in a move criticised as a whitewash.
The official investigation gave Zuma the all-clear over the Rand 206m bill for security upgrades at his rural village home, which included building a helipad and relocating neighbours.
The government’s findings appeared to be at odds with a leaked draft report by the country’s corruption watchdog, which said Zuma had personally benefited from the renovations.
“Allegations that the president had used state resources to build or upgrade his personal dwellings are unfounded,” Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi told a news conference.
The splurge on the house, nestled in the verdant hills of Zuma’s political stronghold, has sparked an uproar amid an economic crunch in a country where 10 million live on social grants and many have only tin shacks above their heads.AFP
