President Jacob Zuma was right about one thing: South Africa is obsessed with Nkandla.

But it’s not just us, Mr President. Your R246m upgrades have made headlines all around the world too.

Last week police minister Nkosinathi Nhleko ruled that the president was not liable to pay back any of the public money spent on upgrades to his residence, as the upgrades were for security purposes.

He went to great lengths to explain to South African taxpayers why a “firepool”, cattle kraal, chicken coop and amphitheatre were essential security features.

As a result of this, South Africa made it into world headlines again.

BBC:

“South Africa’s ‘brazen cover-up’ of Zuma’s home upgrade”

The BBC’s Africa correspondent, Andrew Harding, described the offence as “an orgy of overspending by obsequious officials and conniving contractors”.

Harding mentioned how Nhleko spelt out “in inadvertently comic detail, how conveniently the mosaic-inlayed swimming pool can double as an essential source of water for fighting fires.”

“But as is so often the case in politics, it is the cover up – long, venomous, hair-splitting and sanctimonious – that has been most revealing, and most depressing.”

Sydney Morning Herald:

“‘The pool is for fire safety’ and other Jacob Zuma renovation excuses”

“South African President Jacob Zuma didn’t just use $21 million of taxpayer money to improve his private property. He used it to protect himself,” reported Sydney Morning Herald’s Siobhan O’Grady.

O’Grady identified Nhleko’s “excuses” for the various upgrades, and was rather blunt about it.

“In South Africa, more than 50 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line. But what better way spend 200 million rand ($21 million) than on updates to the president’s private homes?”

The New York Times:

“South Africa Minister Rules Zuma Not Liable for Home Upgrades”

The New York Times published a fairly neutral article by Reuters which outlined Nhleko’s televised address.

Even though the article took a more objective stance, Nhleko’s arguments for Nkandla’s special features still come across as nonsensical.

“Nhleko said the swimming pool, which he called a “fire pool,” was needed for fire-fighting purposes and the animal enclosure was required to prevent cattle and chickens from setting off motion detectors.”

The Guardian:

“Jacob Zuma will not have to repay money spent to upgrade his home”

The Guardian published an AFP article which identified Nkandlagate as “one of the biggest scandals to dog the embattled head of state“.

Th article notes that even with Nhleko’s ruling, the demands to “pay back the money”, which caused parliament to “collapse in chaos more than once”, are unlikely to stop.

“The scandal has tarnished the reputation of the African National Congress.”

China Daily:

“S. African president cleared connection to corruption scandal”

China Daily relayed the police report with the slightest touch of opinion.

“Nhleko brushed aside allegations that unnecessary facilities were added to the security upgrades of Zuma’s private home in Nkandla,” the article read.

China Daily described the report as a “fresh attempt by the government to clear Zuma in the Nkandla scandal, which has haunted Zuma since March last year”.

Top photo by Wikimedia.org/JohnAForbes