Opposition parties took him to the constitutional court, which ruled last March that he had broken his oath of office by not adhering to the Public Protector’s findings, and should pay “a reasonable amount”, which the National Treasury put at 7.8 million rand.
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The Nkandla scandal has dogged Zuma’s presidency, becoming a symbol of alleged corruption and greed within the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party and triggering several unsuccessful impeachment bids by the opposition.
Treasury had recommended Zuma pay R7.81 million rand for non-security-related features, including R2.3 million for the so-called swimming pool, R1 million for the amphitheatre and R1.2 million for the cattle kraal.
The Economic Freedom Fighters’ Fana Mokoena says Zuma must disclose the details of the loan he has taken from VBS Mutual Bank.
Zuma’s office said Monday that the money was paid to the South African Reserve Bank after he raised it through a home loan.
Zuma denied he had acted dishonestly over the upgrade.
Earlier the daily rag City Press reported that the Zuma family was trying to secure a loan through the black-owned VBS Mutual Bank, to pay the R7.8 million.
Bongani Ngqulunga, the presidency’s spokesman, said Zuma had not considered taking money from his supporters to pay the amount as he had been ordered by the court to pay it personally.
Zuma says the constant mocking he faces from some MPs can not be considered Parliamentary.
After an investigation into the project, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela determined past year that the president had unduly benefited on the non-security upgrade of his private home.
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The bank is one of the few financial institutions that offer home loans in respect of land owned by traditional authorities, the statement said.
