Zuma under investigation for ‘spending $23m on property’

President Jacob Zuma is presently being investigated by the South African police for allegedly refurbishing his rural homestead with $23 million.

Mmusi Maimane, the Democratic Alliance’s parliamentary leader, and Julius Malema, a former youth leader of the country’s ruling African National Congress (ANC), had charged the police to probe “abuse of office on the part of the president”.

Solomon Makgale, a top police officer confirmed that the president was under investigation.

However, Nathi Nhleko, the country’s police chief minister, also confirmed the development but refused to disclose any findings.

“The investigation in this regard has been initiated and no further information can be disclosed at this juncture as the matter is still sub judice,” he said in a written statement to parliament.

According to City Press, the probe could focus on Zuma’s family’s links to Moneymine, the construction company that handled the project.

Zuma, who was reelected in May, has insisted that he had no knowledge of the work, including the construction of a swimming pool, private clinic and amphitheatre.

Moneymine is allegedly owned by Michael and Pamela Mfeka, who are linked to Mandla Gcaba, Zuma’s cousin.

The parliament had absolved Zuma of any wrongdoing but Maimane said the committee that the national assembly set up to look into the issue lacked credibility.

“It cleared President Zuma of any involvement in the gross escalation of costs, and clears him of any knowledge of what happened at his own private home,” Maimane said.

“Yet we know that President Zuma was regularly briefed on the building project at Nkandla through his own appointed architect.”

In August when Zuma appeared before parliament, opposition lawmakers  chanted “pay back the money” repeatedly until riot police were called in.

Zuma had previously undergone a corruption trial.

In 2009, 700 charges of corruption relating to a controversial multi-billion dollar arms deal were dropped against Zuma.