In 2009, soon after Zuma became president, upgrades began at his personal home in Nkandla, a small town in the eastern South African province of KwaZulu-Natal.
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Zuma was only required to pay back money for non-security features. He survived an impeachment vote in April over the Nkandla costs with backing from the ruling African National Congress (ANC), which has been in power since the end of white-minority rule in 1994.
A Treasury spokeswoman said the payment had been received.
These famously included a swimming pool, cattle kraal, chicken run, amphitheatre and visitors’ centre, which the police ministry and Parliament sought to cast as legitimate public expenditure by claiming that each item doubled up as a vital security measure.
The DA leader said that President Zuma is known to evade accountability during his parliamentary question and answer sessions.
The president has also been accused of allowing an Indian immigrant family of wealthy businessmen to select some Cabinet ministers, though Zuma has denied those allegations.
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.
Maimane said he has written to Zuma asking for further details on the VBS Mutual Bank loan, such the loan agreement, repayments and supporting documents. “President Zuma has said one thing then another and another so it’s one of those things where the opposition won’t let sleeping dogs lie”.
After an investigation into the project, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela determined a year ago that the president had unduly benefited on the non-security upgrade of his private home.
Ramavhunga says the Public Investment Corporation has been a shareholder since 1982.
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The Constitutional Court ruled that president Zuma had in fact gained from upgrades done to Nkandla, and he would have to pay back a reasonable percentage “as determined by Treasury”.
