SA President Won't Have to Repay Private Residence Upgrades

South African president, Jacob Zuma, will not have to repay any of the public money spent on upgrades to his private residence, which have been pilloried as lavish and wasteful. Police minister, Nkosinathi Nhleko, determined that all of the upgrades were for security purposes and that “the state president is therefore not liable to pay." Zuma was accused of deceiving parliament about the expense and scope of the security upgrade and last year, public protector Thuli Madonsela, the country’s ombudswoman, found that the president and his family had “unduly benefited” from the work on his home and should repay some of the money. The work included a swimming pool, amphitheatre, visitor centre, cattle enclosure and chicken coop. Under public pressure, Zuma then nominated the minister of police – a Zuma appointee – to determine how much he should repay.