Reply:

The Minister of Public Works:

In November 2012, I established a Task Team to investigate the matter of the security upgrades at the private residence of the President of the Republic, located in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal Province. The Task Team investigated the above matter and requested an explanation for the items highlighted in this Parliamentary question. The explanation obtained from South African Police Service (SAPS) officials on these items is as follows:

(a) Swimming Pool

The SAPS explained that one of the hazards raised by the assessment was the possible outbreak of fire on or near the premises as most of the structures have thatched roofs and are close to each other. In order to eliminate or minimise potential risks and due to water supply, which was erratic, the SAPS requested a structure that could store 45 000 litres of water.

The idea of a swimming pool or fire pool was based on the advice of the mechanical engineering team that a structure which can contain 45 000 litres of water was needed and a swimming pool or fire pool was the most viable option.

(b) A Chicken Run

The explanation by the SAPS was that the chicken run was constructed within the cattle kraal. It was created as a replacement to a number of building block structures that were scattered around some of the main dwellings which were, according to the security assessments, obstructions and potential hiding areas for intruders. The reason for the relocation of these loose structures to a dedicated area was to improve the security on site.

(c) A Cattle Kraal and Culvert

According to the security personnel, when the security assessments were conducted and as part of the security, sensitive electronic equipment was recommended to be installed on the fence. False alarms, as well as damage to the fence and electronic equipment could be caused by the movement of cattle.

Secondly, due to the location of the kraal next to the entrance used by people, thereby posing a potential risk in the high security area, a decision was therefore taken to move the cattle kraal to a dedicated area and a culvert be erected to prevent the cattle from disturbing and damaging the electronic equipment and the fence.

(d) The Shop

The tuck shop existed long before the President was inaugurated and was located within the President’s homestead. Due to the security risk posed by the movement of people from outside the homestead into the high security area and taking into account previous incidents of criminality that took place at the homestead, the tuck shop had to be relocated from within the premises and erected at the perimeter of the premises.

(e) Air Conditioning

The air conditioners were installed in certain rooms of the main house, the clinic, guard houses and the security tunnel, in line with the security risk assessment. The assessment recommended that bullet proof windows be installed in certain rooms of the President’s private residence and such windows had an impact of high temperatures in the rooms and could not be opened. As a result and in order to minimize the adverse effect that the bullet proof windows would have, air conditioners were installed.

The above items were not contained in the documents, but the explanation was provided to the Task Team. This explanation is contained in the Task Team Report as an explanatory note.

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