5th ParliamentConcluded

Nkandla Ad Hoc Committee

Ad Hoc Committee on the Police Minister's Report on the Security Upgrades at the President's Private Home at Nkandla

Chair: Cedric FrolickEst: 1 November 2015National Assembly Rule 253

Explain like I'm 10

President Zuma's private home got over R246 million worth of upgrades paid for by the government. Some of it — like the swimming pool — had nothing to do with security. The Public Protector (like the country's official complaint-handler) said Zuma must pay…

In plain English

President Zuma's private home got over R246 million worth of upgrades paid for by the government. Some of it — like the swimming pool — had nothing to do with security. The Public Protector (like the country's official complaint-handler) said Zuma must pay some of the money back. Parliament's committee looked at whether the Police Minister's explanation was good enough. The Constitutional Court later ruled that Zuma had to pay back the money and that Parliament had failed to hold him accountable.

Legal framing

To consider the Police Minister's report on the security upgrades at President Zuma's private Nkandla homestead, which cost taxpayers over R246 million, and the Public Protector's remedial action requiring Zuma to repay a portion.

Mandate

To consider the Police Minister's report on the security upgrades at President Zuma's private Nkandla homestead, which cost taxpayers over R246 million, and the Public Protector's remedial action requiring Zuma to repay a portion.

Announced1 November 2015

First meeting—

Concluded1 May 2016

Report adopted—

People

2 figures

Chair

1

Cedric FrolickANCChair of the committee.

Subject of inquiry

1

Jacob ZumaANCThen President. Subject of the Police Minister's report the committee was processing, and subsequently ordered by the Constitutional Court to repay a portion of the Nkandla costs.

Linked laws

Outcome

What happened

The committee accepted the Police Minister's report and effectively absolved Zuma — a decision widely condemned. The Constitutional Court subsequently ruled in March 2016 that Zuma had failed to uphold the Constitution, and that the National Assembly had failed in its constitutional duty to hold the President accountable. Zuma was ultimately ordered to repay R7.8 million. The Constitutional Court, in effect, said the committee got it wrong — the highest court in the country said Parliament failed to do its job here.

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