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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