Zuma house refurbishment stopped

BBSA

BBSA

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http://www.timeslive.co.za/Politics/article981252.ece/Zuma-house-refurbishment-stopped

Public Works Minister Mahlangu-Nkabinde has put a halt to the refurbishment of Jacob Zuma's residence in Pretoria, she announced on Tuesday.

Speaking at a press conference in Pretoria, Mahlangu-Nkabinde said no refurbishment of Zuma's residence, Mahlamba Ndlopfu, was currently taking place.

"It is a residence that really needed to be worked on some years ago. We haven't done that and we were in the process of doing it, but the cost is what has caused us to stop.

"We felt that with the R177-million that is earmarked we could do quite a lot of saving. There is no house that is built for R177-million."

She said she was in the process of determining what Zuma required, but that it would be a cost-effective price.

Mahlangu-Nkabinde said there was no multimillion-rand elite military hospital being built for cabinet members at the Bryntirion ministerial estate in Pretoria.

"We are not building a hospital at the Bryntirion Estate."

She did say there was a need to accommodate the medical staff based at the estate, who were currently working out of caravans.

The department was considering housing medical staff in the unused Marula House at the estate.

"I know that there are figures flying all over the newspapers like R42-million, and R67-million, whatever... We are not going to be using any cent in that regard."

Mahlangu-Nkabinde said the department would use its own in-house expertise to refurbish Marula House should it be decided to accommodate medical staff there.

Referring to a R93-million house which had been built for a VIP residence that had been "earmarked" for the country's deputy president, she said the project had been completed by the time she took office.

"I do understand there is an outcry of exhorbitant figures and I also agree."

She said there was currently an investigation under way to see "if we got our money's worth".
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Would they have stopped it if the media did not uncover this scam?
 
BBSA said:
http://www.timeslive.co.za/Politics/article981252.ece/Zuma-house-refurbishment-stopped

Would they have stopped it if the media did not uncover this scam?
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Simple answer, NO. But we all knew that already.

I am still worried about the "investigation to see if we got our money's worth." That troubles me some. I still do not understand why government money needs to be used on personal housing. There should be a presidential house like the White house in the US. When a president steps down, he also moves out.

This systematic enrichment program that the ANC has going is just rediculous. On top of tenders, under the counter deals etc... They still get to have so much freedom with our money.
 
exactly - why are we paying for this crap?
 
SoulTax said:
Simple answer, NO. But we all knew that already.

I am still worried about the "investigation to see if we got our money's worth." That troubles me some. I still do not understand why government money needs to be used on personal housing. There should be a presidential house like the White house in the US. When a president steps down, he also moves out.

This systematic enrichment program that the ANC has going is just rediculous. On top of tenders, under the counter deals etc... They still get to have so much freedom with our money.
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Aren't these official residences ?
 
JungleBoy said:
Aren't these official residences ?
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To my knowledge this is "Zuma's" house that he will keep even after he leaves the presidency. If it is not and it will remain the "President's house" then half of the crime is absolved. Then the crime of overexpenditure still remains. Heavy, Heavy overexpenditure.

Even if in this case it is the presidency house, it would not be the norm. Government officials constantly get houses, cars and furniture at our expense, that they then keep. Their kids go to private school, their family goes on expensive holidays, all of this is on our money. Over and above the exorbitant amount of money they get per month for doing their jobs, sub-par.
 
SoulTax said:
To my knowledge this is "Zuma's" house that he will keep even after he leaves the presidency. If it is not and it will remain the "President's house" then half of the crime is absolved. Then the crime of overexpenditure still remains. Heavy, Heavy overexpenditure.

Even if in this case it is the presidency house, it would not be the norm. Government officials constantly get houses, cars and furniture at our expense, that they then keep. Their kids go to private school, their family goes on expensive holidays, all of this is on our money. Over and above the exorbitant amount of money they get per month for doing their jobs, sub-par.
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No, that's incorrect. It's not his personal house that he will keep even after he leaves the presidency, it's the official presidential house for the use of whoever is president. The house was formerly known as Libertas and was completed in 1940 as the official residence for the Prime Minister of South Africa. The Architect was Dr Gerrit Moerdyk who designed the house in a traditional Cape-Dutch style but with certain adaptations for a residence of this status.

The name Libertas was changed in 1995 to what we know today as Mahlamba Ndlopfu (Shangaan). Mahlamba Ndlopfu means "The new dawn" when translated into English.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahlamba_Ndlopfu
http://www.thepresidency.gov.za/pebble.asp?relid=195
 
SoulTax said:
To my knowledge this is "Zuma's" house that he will keep even after he leaves the presidency. If it is not and it will remain the "President's house" then half of the crime is absolved. Then the crime of overexpenditure still remains. Heavy, Heavy overexpenditure.

Even if in this case it is the presidency house, it would not be the norm. Government officials constantly get houses, cars and furniture at our expense, that they then keep. Their kids go to private school, their family goes on expensive holidays, all of this is on our money. Over and above the exorbitant amount of money they get per month for doing their jobs, sub-par.
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There are official residences for government officials which they vacate for the next incumbent upon leaving office (same with cars)... These houses remain the property of the Department of Public Works.
However in the case of a president it's a little different as they also get a personal house from the state in which they retire with full presidential benefits such as health, security, etc, for life.
 
SoulTax said:
To my knowledge this is "Zuma's" house that he will keep even after he leaves the presidency. If it is not and it will remain the "President's house" then half of the crime is absolved. Then the crime of overexpenditure still remains. Heavy, Heavy overexpenditure.

Even if in this case it is the presidency house, it would not be the norm. Government officials constantly get houses, cars and furniture at our expense, that they then keep. Their kids go to private school, their family goes on expensive holidays, all of this is on our money. Over and above the exorbitant amount of money they get per month for doing their jobs, sub-par.
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It's the presidential house, Mbeki also lived there, as did pretty much all the old presidents. They just changed the name (obviously), but the house has been there for ages, a huge Cape Dutch building. That whole area, eastern part of Meintjieskop, is where the presidents and ministers have always lived.

But yes other ministers (and I'm sure Zuma as well) keep getting stuff they can keep for themselves, and it is sickening. Just as I'm sure they'll use companies owned by ANC cronies to do these refurbishments at greatly inflated prices.
 
joelus said:
No, that's incorrect. It's not his personal house that he will keep even after he leaves the presidency, it's the official presidential house for the use of whoever is president. The house was formerly known as Libertas and was completed in 1940 as the official residence for the Prime Minister of South Africa. The Architect was Dr Gerrit Moerdyk who designed the house in a traditional Cape-Dutch style but with certain adaptations for a residence of this status.

The name Libertas was changed in 1995 to what we know today as Mahlamba Ndlopfu (Shangaan). Mahlamba Ndlopfu means "The new dawn" when translated into English.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahlamba_Ndlopfu
http://www.thepresidency.gov.za/pebble.asp?relid=195
Click to expand...

Thanks for that. In some ways I am glad it is at least the State owned residence of the president. The upgrade figures are still sickening though.
 
wait till after the election, then they'll spend 3x as much. they can build several very posh homes for the price of the upgrading. but as BEE goes, they pick the most expensive contractors! like the R1.something million bathroom the built for zuma last year.

and i dont understand the need for all this medical personel, if the cabinet is so sick, sack them and appoint healty ministers that can actually do their jobs!

zuma is really running a banana republic!!!
 
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