South African police have launched an investigation into
corruption allegations linked to President Jacob Zuma’s $24m state-funded
upgrade of his house, according to parliamentary papers.
In a written police response to lawmakers published on
Monday, police confirmed that a probe into accusations that the leader misused
public funds to refurbish his house in the rural village
of Nkandla “has been initiated”.
Zuma, who was re-elected in May, has insisted that he had no
knowledge of the work on his home, including the construction of a
swimming pool, private clinic and amphitheatre.
His government has insisted all the refurbishments were
security related.
The issue has become a lightning rod for criticism of Zuma’s
administration, which is seen by many South Africans as tolerant of corruption
and incompetence.
South Africa’s national assembly erupted in August with
lawmakers chanting “pay back the money”, demanding Zuma return the millions of
dollars spent on his home.
Opposition leader, Mmusi Maimane, of the Democratic Alliance
said “now the police must do their jobs”.
Maimane and other opposition politicians had called for Zuma
to be the subject of a criminal investigation over the issue, and have demanded
he resign.
The public ombudsman Thuli Madonsela in March ruled that
Zuma had “benefited unduly” from the construction, ordering him to pay part of
the cost.
Zuma has faced both political and public wrath of the
excessive spending, in a country battling rampant unemployment and inequality.
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