JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) – South Africa’s government took to the courts yesterday to delay the release of an investigation into a $19 million taxpayer-funded upgrade of President Jacob Zuma’s private residence at Nkandla in rural KwaZulu-Natal province.
Zuma and the ruling African National Congress, which faces elections next year, have come under criticism over the security upgrade, which included the building of a helipad, numerous outbuildings and an all-weather soccer pitch.
South Africa’s Public Protector, a government watchdog, has investigated the upgrades and last week released a preliminary report to several government departments, including the state security agency, for comment.
The government yesterday filed a court interdict asking for more time to consider its response. It is now likely to be months before the findings of the investigation become public.
