South African President Jacob Zuma has been ordered to repay some of the £12.9 million of taxpayer's money spent on so-called 'security measures' at his private home after it emerged they included a swimming pool, amphitheatre and tuckshop.
An official report entitled 'Opulence on a Grand Scale' found Zuma had derived 'substantial' personal gain from improvements to his private compound at Nkandla in the rolling hills of KwaZulu-Natal province.
They reportedly include a visitors' centre, cattle enclosure, marquee
area, football pitch, helipad, medical clinic, extensive paving and new houses for the polygamist president’s large family.
The leaked findings of Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's investigation will reinforce a perception of runaway corruption under Zuma and could hurt him and the ruling African National Congress (ANC) in an election due in six months.
Zuma's spokesman declined to comment, while Madonsela's office said the leak was 'unethical and unlawful'.
The ANC threw its weight behind Zuma, saying it believed he had done nothing wrong.
It was found that some of the more legitimate security features, such as 20 houses for police protection, a clinic and two helipads, were excessive and should have been placed in a nearby town to benefit the broader community, the paper said.
The paper estimated some of the questionable features of the upgrade at 20 million rand ($2 million).
The spending revelations have prompted widespread public anger within South Africa and claims of corruption.
Many South Africans are incensed at the prospect that their 70-year-old president – who already has three official state residences – might be using taxpayer's money for private gain.
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