The President of the Republic and the ANC should desist from using this or that excuse to shield   the President Zuma from paying a portion of the costs of not only strengthening security at his Nkandla residence but also embellishing it.

The Special Investigating Unit has vindicated the Public Protector on the issue of the president’s family having benefited beyond security measures.

Section 3(2) (a) and (b) of the National Key points Act states clearly what the owner of a property declared a National Key Point should do and pay, after the Minister has advised them.

The Act is specific on the matter and it is that the Minister should tell such owner how much to pay and if the owner refuses or fails to pay that owner shall be guilty of an offence and be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding R200 000, 00 or to imprisonment not exceeding five years or both such fine and imprisonment.

The issue for the Minister is not to determine whether the owner of the affected property should pay but rather how much such owner should pay. It is the Minister who must determine the amount and fortunately the Public Protector had not stipulated any amount.

It is neither here nor there; President Zuma has to pay for upgrades at his private residence.

 Sipho Mfundisi

President: UCDP