Who's to say he doesn't have some security guards watching his farm or whatever?

I hope he does. Your position just confuses me, and I'm suspecting that it was just a throwaway line you didn't think too much about.

But Zuma, what a dummy.

Hey Jacob

Wow, Netherlands only gives 10 million a year in aid to RSA? Cheapskates.

The Presidential estate is building a hospital. Really misleading to sum this up as 'renovations'.

Hey Putin.

Why don't you indulge us all with a source about this new hospital Putin.

http://mg.co.za/article/2011-02-25-zumas-r200million-renovation/

"Wow, Netherlands only gives 10 million a year in aid to RSA? Cheapskates. "

It's either Holland, or "The Netherlands" and a capitalist can make interesting investments with 10 million a year, you as a socialist would probably ruin a small village with it.

That said, the hospital, according to this rather poorly structured article, amounts for less than a third of the total renovation. Also, I don't believe we'll see a lot of doctors there that aren't there for Mr. Zuma and his wives and (illegitimate) children.

Which Presidential palace has a hospital next to it?

Hey Putin, what's happening to the other 191 million rands. I don't know what the currency stands at but that sounds like a lot of money for a little decorating in a poor country.

Why don't you give us the cost breakdown since you're so animated by this project, then we can all scoff with indignation at it.

You'll be surprised to learn I'm not a numbers man. Here's a quote from the article you yourself quote:

"This refurbishment is the largest of any presidential residence, with previous renovations to the property totalling R50-million in the past five years.

Public Works Minister Gwen Mahlangu Nkabinde recently replied in response to a parliamentary question that R13,9-million had been spent on Genadendal in Cape Town in the past year, R1,9 million was splashed out on Kings House in Durban and R40-million has been spent on Mahlamba Ndlopfu in Pretoria since 2005.

With the cost of building an RDP house about R58 000, the amount spent on refurbishing Mahlamba Ndlopfu could pay for 3 293 homes for South Africas poorest.

Half the amount spent on the refurbishment could buy the countrys most expensive homes on the market, the penthouse suite at Cape Towns One and Only Hotel or a five-bedroom house in Clifton with a rim pool with views of the ocean.

The amount of R191-million is also a far cry from the R5-million that the budget has promised for spending on health technology, or the R60-million for the national HIV/Aids treatment programme."

Call me crazy but if on the pro-Zuma to contra-Zuma spectrum this is the one that leans most to the former, I think we can all agree that this particular renovation is.... not necessarily the best way to spend money from foreign governments trying to help you.

Do you think "splashed out" is Afrikaans for "carefully invested" or am I getting this correctly?

According to your own source, Putin - the article *you* posted - the total cost of the works is R253million, of which R62million is being spent on the hospital, and the remaining R191million on renovations to Zuma's house.

Yes, I provided an article that was critical of the project and you still managed to complain about the source before deciding the source was good enough for you.

You're not a numbers man but you're complaining about government waste. Glad you're not in charge of South Africa's budget then.

http://www.periscopepost.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/WillyWonka-480x345.jpg

Wait a minute, so it turns out that the bulk of this "renovation" is being done with Zuma's money. The public works department was hired to construct security related structures on the estate.

So much ado about nothing.

Let me say this very slowly.

Why. Does. The. President. Of. A. Poor. Country. Refurnish. His. House. For. 191. Million. Quatloos?

"...with Zuma's money...."

As a socialist does it not offend you that president Zuma *has* this much wealth? Where did he get it from?

Source? Also, how did the man get the money? Also, why is a private person spending his own money on a government building? Also, why is Africa so sick with Aids?

Also, how comes Jamie and I always fight and now ask the exact same questions?

http://www.periscopepost.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/WillyWonka-480x345.jpg

redhouse: you are posting too frequently, please slow down

@Redhouse; I'm perplexed at your sudden concern about inequality in South Africa. Maybe in your next post you will praise Mugabe for doing something about property inequality in Zimbabwe. One can only hope.

Also shouldn't you be praising Zuma for investing in a poor, AIDS ridden community like Nkandla?

@ Jamie

Yes and I don't know, although I suspect Zuma is being smeared to some extent here so I don't quite believe the hype.

You should watch footage from the World Cup of Football in SA and see how Zuma shakes hands with players when he greets them. I found it quite educational to see that.

You're obsessed. If only you cared this much about THE Netherlands cover-up of warcrimes in Indonesia.

:-)

Redhouse is being racist again, isn't he? I don't even have to read the thread to know that.

lol yellow jacket