R170m to upgrade Zuma home

REVAMPING the interior of President Jacob Zuma's official residence in Pretoria, Mahlamba Ndlopfu, is expected to cost nearly R170 million, Public Works Minister Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde has said.

She also revealed that the president would be getting a sauna and steam room.

The total cost of the refurbishment, building and other work that has been carried out or is planned for Zuma's offices and official homes in Cape Town and Pretoria, as well as projects on the Bryntirion ministerial estate, which includes Mahlamba Ndlopfu, is more than R400m. None of the furniture is to be replaced.

Details of the spending emerged yesterday in written replies to parliamentary questions asked in March and April by DA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip.

Trollip is now writing to the minister for a full explanation of why the spending "was deemed an appropriate use of state funds".

"I will also be submitting an oral question to the president, so that he can account to Parliament and the South African people for this vast expenditure."

Presidency spokeswoman Zanele Mngadi said that none of the work had been ordered by Zuma himself.

"The Department of Public Works is responsible for managing government property, and procurement is done in terms of their procurement policy."

Trollip said that this was disingenuous.

"These are homes that are intended for the president's use, and the president must account for their significant price tags."

According to the National Treasury's Estimates of National Expenditure for 2011, refurbishing Mahlamba Ndlopfu was to begin in April, take 15 months and cost R191m, with R86m allocated in the 2011/12 financial year. It said the project entailed upgrading such infrastructure as bulk water, electrical services and roads.

Replying to Trollip's request for a breakdown of the R191m price tag, Mahlangu-Nkabinde said: "The cost for interior refurbishment is estimated at R168 762 018.17. No new or additional furniture will be procured. The current furniture will be retained."

The minister's reply detailed other renovations, including "attention to the swimming pool", building changing facilities and a "sauna/steam room", upgrading security measures, "including escape routes", a new electronic surveillance system, perimeter fence, improved access control and the installation of a fire detection system, intercom and a "danger warning" PA system.

Included was the restoration of wooden doors, windows, cupboards, ceilings and floors "to the original form as per South African Heritage Resource Agency", as well as restoration work to balcony and stairway balustrades, fireplaces and chandeliers.

An "energy-saving plan" involved solar water heating, a 'lighting application" and the kitchen switching to using gas only.

This required a gas cylinder storage facility to be built, to comply with regulations.

In Cape Town, just under R40m had been spent over three years on renovations to Zuma’s official residence, Genadendal, on the Groote Schuur estate, and his office at Tuynhuys.

At Genadendal the price tag was R13.5m, while the office revamp - which included renovating the offices of Zuma's support staff - came to R24.4m. In Pretoria, a "professional team" had been appointed to carry out a "condition survey" of the Bryntirion Estate.

It had produced a "master plan" for proposed upgrades, including improved security measures – at an estimated R193m.

Public Works spending on buildings and other fixed structures increased from R488m in 2007/08 to R1.4bn in 2010/11 at an annual average rate of 41.3 percent, mainly due to increased spending for ports of entry, but also for "additional funding for prestige management for the accommodation requirements of additional ministers and deputy ministers resulting from the expansion of cabinet in 2009", said the Estimates of National Expenditure for 2011.

Public Works spokesman Thamsanqa Mchunu was unable to respond to queries.

Source :  iol.co.za ; Gaye Davis - October 20 2011

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