Nkandla is not an issue in Eersterus Community - Joemat-Pettersson

The ANC NEC member was speaking while conducting door-to-door campaigning in the Pretoria area yesterday.

JOHANNESBURG - African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee (NEC) member Tina Joemat-Pettersson said Nkandla is not an issue in the Eersterus Community.

The ANC NEC member was speaking while conducting door-to-door campaigning in the Pretoria area yesterday.

Earlier this year, the Constitutional Court found President Jacob Zuma had failed to protect, uphold and defend the constitution by not implementing the remedial actions put forward by the public protector.

Thuli Madonsela had found that Zuma improperly benefited from the over R200 million upgrades at his Homestead.

Eyewitness News interacted with some of Eersterus residents that Tina Joemat-Pettersson spoke to.

Some of the residents say while they support the ANC, they don't understand why Zuma has remained the party's leader after the Constitutional Court judgement.

Joemat-Pettersson was asked if the issue of Nkandla was raised-at all and responded by saying the issue was raised at all.

She said residents only raised issues of housing and substance abuse.

DA WRITES TO HAWKS BOSS OVER NKANDLA

At the same time, Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane has written to Hawks boss Berning Ntlemeza, asking why the corruption-busting unit is not investigating Nkandla architect Minenhle Makhanya.

It emerged this week that the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks, is not probing the man at the centre of the spending scandal.

Inflated costs and gross overspending on the controversial project to upgrade Zuma's private home took place under Makhanya's watch.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is suing Makhanya to recover more than R155 million after finding that "through the unlawful, wrongful and negligent use of the powers that were granted to him, Makhanya inter alia increased the scope and extent of the works, by designing and authorising items that were not required for security purposes, as determined by the SAPS and the SANDF".

Maimane wants to know why Makhanya is not being criminally charged.

He quoted the SIU report which said Makhanya "designed and produced more than had been requested and authorised and certified over-payments".

A swimming pool, cattle kraal, visitors centre, amphitheatre and chicken run were built for Zuma in the name of security as part of a R246 million project.

There is no decision from the NPA on whether Zuma will be charged after the DA opened a corruption case against him in March 2014, for "his complicity in the alleged misappropriation of public funds".