The Jacob Zuma Foundation has called on the Presidency and the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to ensure that government policies governing former presidents are fully implemented, raising concerns about the maintenance and security of former president Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla residence.
The call comes as Zuma, 84, recovers at a private hospital in Pietermaritzburg, where he was admitted last week for medical treatment.
The foundation has appealed for greater attention to Zuma’s welfare, alleging that his residence in KwaZulu-Natal is not receiving the maintenance and support provided for under Cabinet policy.
Foundation spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi said the government had a responsibility to demonstrate care for the former president by ensuring that applicable policies were implemented.
“They must show demonstrable care for His Excellency President Zuma. And the demonstrable care that they should do is something that is contained in the Cabinet policy,” Manyi said.
He further said, “One of that is the maintenance of the residence of the former presidents. They do that for all other presidents, except for President Zuma. I don’t know what it is, vindictiveness against President Zuma.”
The foundation’s concerns come amid a continuing dispute over the extent of the government’s responsibility for maintaining Zuma’s private residence.
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson said in September that the state’s responsibility was limited to security-related infrastructure and accommodation for security personnel, rather than general maintenance of the private property.
SIU judgment over Nkandla upgrades
The dispute over Nkandla comes as the controversial security upgrades at the property remain under scrutiny following a recent judgment obtained by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
In August, the Special Tribunal ordered Minenhle Makhanya, the architect and principal agent responsible for the upgrades, to repay the National Treasury R147.2 million.
The tribunal found that Makhanya’s appointment and conduct during the project were unlawful and resulted in financial losses to the state.
According to the SIU, the project’s approved budget of approximately R27.9 million eventually escalated to R216 million after additional work was undertaken.
The tribunal found that Makhanya’s appointment had not followed a competitive tender process and that there was no lawful justification for bypassing procurement requirements.
The additional works included tunnels, lifts, accommodation for security personnel, roads, landscaping and other facilities that went beyond the security requirements identified for the residence.
The tribunal also ordered Makhanya to pay the legal costs of the proceedings. The amount ordered represents losses suffered by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure as a result of unlawful conduct during the project.
The judgment adds another development to the long-running controversy over public expenditure at Nkandla, although the legal dispute over the upgrades is separate from the current disagreement about the government’s maintenance obligations.
Zuma’s health draws public attention
Meanwhile, Zuma’s hospitalisation has attracted considerable public attention, with political leaders, supporters and members of the public expressing concern about his condition.
The Jacob Zuma Foundation said on Monday that the former president was recovering well and was in high spirits.
Manyi said the foundation had received reassuring information from someone who had been with Zuma and appealed to the public and media to respect his privacy while he receives treatment.
Zuma is receiving treatment at a private hospital in Pietermaritzburg. His specific diagnosis and detailed medical information have not been publicly disclosed.
The fact that he is being treated in a private hospital has also drawn attention to his medical care. However, no independently verified information has been released establishing the precise nature of his treatment or the specialist team overseeing his recovery.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile, who recently returned to work after recovering from his own health problems, has been among the political leaders whose recovery has attracted public attention in recent weeks.
Messages wishing Zuma a speedy recovery have also come from politicians and ordinary South Africans.
As the former president continues receiving medical care, the foundation’s appeal places renewed focus on both his recovery and the separate question of the government’s obligations towards former heads of state.
The Presidency and the Department of Public Works have not commented on the matter.
