Cronin defends Nkandla expenditure

15 October 2012

Sikho Ntshobane

DEPUTY Public Works Minister Jeremy Cronin has dismissed accusations against President Jacob Zuma over the upgrade of his Nkandla homestead, saying it stemmed from ANC election politicking ahead of Mangaung.

"Development is happening across the country," Cronin said. "It is just wrong to divert all the attention to what is happening in Nkandla."

Cronin was handing over a new school building to Gulandoda Primary and Junior Secondary schools in Ngcobo on Friday.

His department and the Independent Development Trust (IDT) built the R10-million complex to make use of alternative technology and energy.

He said Zuma had proclaimed that development should be directed to all the people of South Africa.

"The president said we managed to build amazing airports and stadiums for the 2010 World Cup. He said everyone should feel part of the new South Africa. That can only happen when everyone has access to infrastructure," Cronin said.

Zuma has been accused of prioritising the development of his birthplace after it emerged that about R238-million of taxpayers' money would be spent upgrading his Nkandla homestead.

But Cronin said the criticism was linked to Mangaung: "The upgrades are done because he [Zuma] requires security. We are doing it because he requires protection as the president".

"Issues like these mustn't be clouded by issues of Mangaung."

Cronin called for an integrated approach on the delivery of infrastructure to communities by the government, especially with regard to the building of new schools.

He said: "We need municipalities to come on board and build bridges. In some areas children are forced to walk for 10km to get to a school.

"Education can only happen in a context where there is proper infrastructure."

He urged traditional leaders, parents, teachers and pupils at the school to work together to ensure that the schools functioned properly.

About 49 new schools will be built by the department in the Eastern Cape this year as part of the government's plan to eradicate mud schools.

Buffalo City mayor Zukiswa Ncitha has also attacked Zuma's critics over the Nkandla affair.

Speaking at an ANC Women's League function at East London's Orient Theatre, Ncitha said the criticism was tantamount to abusing the president and an insult to South Africans.

"Let us stop abusing the president. The ANC doesn't just lead its members, but the entire South African society. [Everyone feels] insulted when the state president is mistreated," she said.

"The president must be treated with respect," Ncitha said to loud applause and ululation. – Additional reporting by Siya Miti

Reader's Comments

Report Abuse Author: thirsty Date: 15 October 2012 16:51

That is proof from Cronin himself " They don't have a clue" Take all the money from the arms deal, pluss the R17Bil odd from SAA over the past six years add a few million and i mean a good few for all general corruption in other govt departments and we are probably at R 70 Billion. Then the president wants to emanate Gadafi but now says the economy is under pressure, but if we didn't have this belief of a bottomless pit of taxpayers money and still had all this R70Bil odd we would be sitting pretty. Sorry Cronin you can't convince me anybody needs R200mil of security.

Report Abuse Author: alvonhumb Date: 15 October 2012 13:54

Ah Jeremy, no wonder we're so deep in trouble in our SA kleptocracy - a "Deputy Public Works Minister" can't see the problem. Here it is in plain words: Nkandla = diversion of public funds to a private homestead of a lame duck president on his way out; and Public Infrastructure = those things that are built to serve the public and remain under public ownership. The fact that the Zuma abuse is being carried out behind a veil of secrecy on "security grounds" only further complicates things. And as for Ncitha's comments, be assured we are in no way insulted when the media and oppostion highlights instances of public figures with their hands deep in our pockets.

Report Abuse Author: VernE Date: 15 October 2012 13:39

I don't think it's necessary to feel insulted or abused over cricism of disproportionate things where it's taxpayers' money that has been abused. After all this is not even a totally new building project, it's a mere upgrade, of R238 million and must make the poor wonder about his sensitivity in these difficult times.

Report Abuse Author: FongKongTiger Date: 15 October 2012 11:02

Cronin, you are increasingly spineless. Can you still write poetry when you surround yourself with this morass?

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