MK Party Welcomes SIU Findings Into Nkandla, Questions Narrative Around Jacob Zuma’s Responsibility
- uMkhonto weSizwe Party Secretary-General Sibonelo Nomvalo addressed the media about the Nkandla matter
- The party's SG noted that a Special Tribunal judgment ordered the architect to repay the excess money spent on upgrades
- The party also said that the ruling raised serious questions about whether Jacob Zuma was the only party responsible
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Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.
KWAZULU-NATAL - The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has publicly welcomed a Special Tribunal ruling that ordered the architect behind the controversial Nkandla homestead upgrades to repay millions of rands to the state.
The party's Secretary General, Advocate Sibonelo Nomvalo, argued that the judgment complicates the long-standing narrative that former President Jacob Zuma bore sole financial responsibility for the project.
SIU ruling orders R147.3 million repayment
On 26 August 2026, the Special Investigating Unit's Special Tribunal issued a judgment ordering architect Minenhle Makhanya to repay R147.3 million to the National Treasury.
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According to the ruling, Makhanya's conduct was found to be unlawful and directly contributed to the project's costs escalating from an initial R28 million to R216 million. The ballooning expenditure was attributed to unauthorised additions to the property, including tunnels, lifts, and structures that had no bearing on legitimate security requirements.
Nomvalo described the development as significant, stating that "other parties may bear responsibility for significant portions of expenditure."
MK Party questions the official narrative
Nomvalo also touched on the narrative that has plagued Zuma for years.
"For years, the public was told that President Zuma was responsible for paying money relating to the upgrades. The latest developments indicate that other parties may bear responsibility for significant portions of expenditure," he said.
The party stopped short of making further legal claims but confirmed it would continue to back the SIU and other lawful investigative bodies.
Trial against architect held in-camera
Briefly News previously reported that the Special Tribunal was trying to reclaim millions of rands that were spent on upgrades at Nkandla.
The architect, Minenhle Makhanya, was representing himself in the in-camera proceedings at the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
The Special Tribunal was hoping that Makhanya would pay R155m back to taxpayers for the upgrades at the former president's home.
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Source: Briefly News
