NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NUMBER: 2 [NW3E]
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: No. 1 of 2013
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 14 FEBRUARY 2013
DATE OF REPLY: 13 March 2013
Mr P J Groenewald (FF Plus) asked the Minister of Public Works:â
(1) With reference to his report regarding Nkandla, which mentions the
expenditure of R135,4 million on operational costs, (a) what is
regarded as operational costs, (b) over what period were these
operational costs incurred and (c) what were the operational costs (i)
in the (aa) 2010-11 and (bb) 2011-12 financial years and (ii) during
the period 1 April 2012 up to the latest specified date for which
information is available;
(2) whether other state departments besides the SA Police Service
deployed or are currently deploying permanent or temporary officials
at Nkandla; if so, in each specified case, (a) how many members of
each department are or were deployed (i) temporarily and (ii)
permanently and (b) what are the reasons for the deployment of staff
from each specified department;
(3) whether he will make a statement on the matter? NW3E
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works
1) The private residence of the President in Nkandla has been declared a
National Key Point and information relating to a National Key Point
should be dealt with utmost sensitivity as it relates to the security
of the President.
2) It is my view that disclosure of information particularly relating to
the nature and number of security personnel deployed for the
Presidentâs security would compromise the security of a National Key
Point, which we are seeking to protect.
3) I have released a detailed media statement on the matter, which the
Honourable Member has apparently used resourcefully in his question.
Nonetheless, the Honourable Member will concede that to protect the
security of the Head of State at his private residence sensitive
security information cannot be made public, unless a mechanism is
found that will ensure that the security of the President is not
compromised.