SACP demands audit

19 November 2012 - 02:04 By MHLABA MEMELA
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More than 10000 members of the SACP and its alliance partners marched through Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, in support of rural development programmes and service delivery on Saturday.
More than 10000 members of the SACP and its alliance partners marched through Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, in support of rural development programmes and service delivery on Saturday.
Image: THEMBINKOSI DWAYISA

The SA Communist Party in KwaZulu-Natal has asked for a forensic audit into the spiraling costs of renovations to President Jacob Zuma's Nkandla homestead.

Marching to the township near Zuma's homestead on Saturday, the SACP brought the rural town to a standstill with more than 10000 members swarming the area.

The Department of Public Works and the p ublic p rotector are already investigating the costs and contracts related to the R250-million improvements but the SACP believes this is not enough.

The party wants a forensic investigation into the costs of renovations, whether prices have been inflated, who was responsible and who were the beneficiaries.

It also demanded an inquiry into whether there existed an organised syndicate ,that siphoned off of taxpayers' money through insider trading, targeting government property and the infrastructure budget of the Department of Public Works.

An emotional Zuma said in parliament on Thursday that he was paying off a bond on the Nkandla homestead, but City Press yesterday reported that no such bond existed.

Presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj said yesterday he was not privy to any information regarding the bond.

"I have sent the inquiry regarding the issue. But I'm not sure when I will get the response to give to the public," said Maharaj.

Zuma's homestead is built on land owned by the Ingonyama Trust, headed by Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini.

The ANC caucus in parliament blocked a motion of no confidence by opposition parties on November 8 against Zuma.

DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko then went to court to have the caucus decision set aside .

She said the DA would never allow the ANC to defeat democracy.

"That is why yesterday [Friday] I filed papers at the Western Cape High Court to seek an urgent interdict to compel the speaker of the National Assembly to uphold the constitutional right of the opposition to have this motion debated," she said.

"The ANC is blocking it because it fears, rightly, that its own members will side with the opposition and vote against the president."

On Saturday, SACP provincial secretary Themba Mthembu said its march on Nkandla was to highlight serious challenges faced by rural communities with a backlog in development.

Mthembu said an attack on development in Nkandla was a broader assault on rural development.

"The attacks on the president continue despite the Department of Public Works confirming that it had authorised the upgrade following a security analysis."

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