Mr Nhleko’s report directly contradicts the findings of Public Protector Thuli Madonsela.
His report on the spending at Nkandla has the potential to put the government on a collision course with Ms Madonsela in the courts. While the Nkandla issue has been put through its paces with five reports on the matter, it is not over, with opposition parties and civil society already announcing they are taking legal advice on the way forward.
Ms Madonsela has argued that the public protector’s findings and orders of remedial action can only be reviewed or reversed by a court of law. Her report recommended that the Treasury along with the South African Police Service should "determine the reasonable costs" of items not related to security such as the swimming pool, visitors centre, amphitheatre, cattle kraal and chicken run. The president should then pay a reasonable percentage of the costs.
