Government holds back on release of Nkandla report

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

An inter-ministerial report about the security upgrades at President Jacob Zuma's Nkandla home will not be released this week as planned.

Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi and security cluster ministers were scheduled to release the report at a media briefing on Tuesday.

Government spokesperson, Phumla Williams, says in view of the preparations for the State funeral of former president Nelson Mandela, government is unable to release the report this week after cabinet ordered last week that the report be made public.

A parliamentary committee's findings on the report indicated that there's no evidence that taxpayers' money had been used to pay for his private home as he had insisted in statements to the National Assembly.

However, the Mail and Guardian published details of a leaked report from the Public Protector in which she said that Zuma had derived substantial personal benefit from the upgrades with non-security features like a swimming pool, kraal and amphitheatre being built with state funds.

The story led to the ANC accusing Madonsela of leaking the report and pressing her to release the final version urgently.

Madonsela condemned the leak.