South African newspapers
have published images of President Jacob Zuma's residence, defying a government
warning that this would break security laws.
Mr Zuma's Nkandla residence is at
the centre of a row after it emerged that the government had used $20m (£12m)
of taxpayers' money to refurbish it.
Cabinet ministers on Thursday said
anyone who published images or footage of the estate would face arrest.
A group of South African editors
described the warning as "absurd".
The Times
newspaper has the headline "So, arrest us", above a picture of
the luxury thatched-roof compound.
The
Star newspaper has a photo of the homestead with a big red cross over it and
the caption: "Look away! What ministers don't want you to see".
The upgrades to Mr Zuma's private
residence include a helipad and an underground bunker, which the government
says are needed for security reasons.
The
contract is being investigated by South Africa's public protector, or
anti-corruption watchdog, Thuli Madonsela, amid allegations that costs were
inflated, and that the renovations went far beyond what the rules allow for a
politician's private home. Earlier this month, security ministers went to court to try to block Ms
Madonsela from publishing her report.
State
Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele on Thursday warned newspapers:
"No-one,
including those in the media, is allowed to take images and publicise images
even pointing where the possible security features are," he said.
"It
is not done anywhere. We have not seen the images of the White House showing
where the security features are. It is not done in any democracy."
Awkward
for ANC
Following
the publication of the photos, the government has issued a statement, saying
that newspapers are within their rights to publish photos of the estate but
"zooming into safety and security features... is a challenge as it
compromises national security".
The
newspaper editors say the public paid for the upgrades and have a right to see
how their money was spent.
The
warning has created public outrage, with many expressing their dissatisfaction
on Twitter and also posting pictures of the home.
The main
opposition has lambasted the upgrade and called for investigations into why so
much was spent and whether Mr Zuma was aware of the cost burden to the state.
The
Democratic Alliance has always insisted that the upgrade was not only morally
wrong and unjustifiable given the country's social needs, but that it is also
possibly illegal.
Other
opposition parties have called it an abuse of state funds.
They also
want to know why Mr Zuma's home was classified as a place of national security,
despite being a private residence.
BBC
Africa correspondent Andrew Harding says the issue is an awkward one for the
governing African National Congress (ANC), with elections approaching next
year.
He says
it also touches on deeper concerns about the undermining of South Africa's
young, but vital, democratic institutions. (BBC)
No comments:
Post a Comment