Justice Malala: "$23 Million In Taxpayer Dollars Shouldn't Be Abused So South African President Zuma Can Upgrade His Crib"

Tax dollars are being used on President Zuma's compound

Boy, South Africa's centrists and the center-right is all over this latest ANC shenanigan. Mr. Malala, a South African center-right columnist, writes: "On Thursday [Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan] asked us to tighten our belts and stop wasteful expenditure. Then the Nkandla issue was raised. An amount of R240-million [US$23.1 million] is being spent on building Zuma a palace in his home village."

He continues his commentary: "Zuma claims to not know much about this expenditure. Who builds themself [sic] a home and does not know the cost? This is, after all, not a state asset but Zuma's own private pad. When Gordhan was asked what he intends to do about Nkandla, he said: '[Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi] is putting certain processes in place that will answer your questions.'"

More: "Sorry minister, that's not good enough. The principle is that taxpayers' money should not be abused. This is a principle enunciated in your successive budgets since 2009. Announce a process to enforce this, instead of throwing the problem at Nxesi - who has already said he that will investigate who leaked the story instead of investigating the rot itself."