Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson says the State is not responsible for maintaining former president Jacob Zuma’s private residence in Nkandla, saying government obligations at the property are limited to security-related infrastructure and not the upkeep of the private residence.

Macpherson was responding to a parliamentary question by Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) Member of Parliament (MP) Pumlani Kubukeli, who asked whether he had been informed that Zuma’s Nkandla residence had deteriorated significantly due to the alleged failure by his department to conduct regular maintenance.

Kubukeli also asked whether the alleged failure or neglect warranted intervention by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

In his written response, Macpherson rejected the claim that the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure was responsible for maintaining the wider Nkandla property, including structures that were not linked to security requirements.

“It is not our responsibility to maintain chicken coops, cattle kraals, amphitheatres, swimming pools, visitor centres or any other non-security upgrades that took place at Nkandla,” Macpherson said.

He said the department’s position was supported by the 2014 Public Protector report, which found that R246 million in public funds had been improperly spent on upgrades at the residence.

Macpherson quoted the report, which stated that expenditure incurred by the State on measures, including buildings and other items constructed or installed by the Department of Public Works at the request of SAPS and the Department of Defence and Military Veterans, “many of which went beyond what was reasonably required for the President’s security”, was “unconscionable, excessive, and caused a misappropriation of public funds”.

“These upgrades should never have been the Department’s responsibility in the first place,” he said.

Macpherson said the maintenance of Zuma’s private property remained the former president’s responsibility.

“How the former President wishes to maintain his property is entirely within his discretion and not the responsibility of the State. Public Works and Infrastructure cannot be party to such maintenance,” he said.

What former presidents are entitled to
Former presidents and their immediate families remain entitled to state protection after leaving office, with security arrangements determined through assessments conducted by the relevant security agencies.

The State’s role at private residences of former heads of state is limited to security requirements, including security installations, access control measures and facilities needed to support protection personnel.

However, this does not extend to the general maintenance, repairs or upkeep of privately owned residences.

Macpherson said the department was aware of its obligations relating to National Key Points and the private residences of former heads of state.

However, he said state support at private residences was limited to security-related requirements identified and requested by SAPS.

“Maintenance work at the private residences of all former Presidents is limited to security installations as determined and requested by the South African Police Services (SAPS), and only allows state resources to be dedicated to physical security, access control, and operational support,” he said.

He said former presidents’ residences were not maintained by the State beyond these security obligations.

“The State is strictly responsible for security features and the housing of security personnel. Normal maintenance and the basic upkeep of the private residence itself falls outside the mandate of the State,” Macpherson said.

The minister added that if there was any uncertainty regarding the government’s obligations, Zuma could approach the Presidency or his office for clarity.

Responding to whether Ramaphosa should intervene, Macpherson said there was no basis for presidential involvement.

“There has been no failure and thus there is no need for the President to be involved in such a matter,” he said.

Source: https://iol.co.za/news/politics/2026-08-06-macpherson-says-state-not-responsible-for-maintaining-jacob-zumas-r246m-nkandla-residence/