We lied in defence of Zuma, says Mbalula on Nkandla ‘fire pool’ security upgrade
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Remember when the governing ANC justified the R3.9m pool at former president Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla as a fire pool and not a swimming pool? Well, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula now says that was a lie to defend Zuma.
At the time, the government justified the so-called fire pool as being solely for security reasons, arguing it could be used to fight fires. The building cost and its justification sparked controversy.
On Sunday, while delivering a keynote address in Barberton, Mpumalanga, Mbalula conceded that the party had misled parliament to defend its president at the time.
“We went to parliament and opened an ad-hoc committee and said a swimming pool is a fire pool. The police minister [Nathi Nhleko] was sweating seeing that this was lies — because it's difficult to explain lies. People have lost their careers because of that thing,” he said.
At the time, the government justified the so-called fire pool as being solely for security reasons, arguing it could be used to fight fires. The building cost and its justification sparked controversy.
On Sunday, while delivering a keynote address in Barberton, Mpumalanga, Mbalula conceded that the party had misled parliament to defend its president at the time.
“We went to parliament and opened an ad-hoc committee and said a swimming pool is a fire pool. The police minister [Nathi Nhleko] was sweating seeing that this was lies — because it's difficult to explain lies. People have lost their careers because of that thing,” he said.
