Officials set to take fall for Nkandla

TOP politicians now seem more likely to escape blame for the controversial R246-million "security upgrades" at President Jacob Zuma's private compound in Nkandla, leaving public servants to take the fall.

Ten current or former employees of the Department of Public Works – including a former acting director-general – are cited in a report on the preliminary findings of a Special Investigating Unit investigation into the scandal.

They are accused of failings related to the hiring of contractors for work on Zuma's home in KwaZulu-Natal.

Details of the SIU's investigation are contained in correspondence from Mziwonke Dlabantu, director-general of the Department of Public Works, to public protector Thuli Madonsela .

The officials are not named but the report states that more Public Works employees might be implicated as the unit's investigations continue.

The SIU is expected to hand its final report to Zuma by the end of this week.

An interministerial task team report – widely derided as a whitewash – absolved Zuma of personal involvement in the scandal, laying the blame squarely at the feet of Public Works employees and contractors, who are accused of inflating prices.

In his report, Dlabantu writes: "The investigation reveals that 10 employees or former employees of the department are probably guilty of misconduct due to acts and omissions in 15 separate matters related to the appointment of contractors for the security upgrades." - Olebogeng Molatlhwa