{South African newspapers have published images of President Jacob Zuma’s residence, defying a government warning that this would break security laws. } <\/p>\n
Mr Zuma’s Nkandla residence is at the centre of a row after it emerged that the government had used $20m (\u00a312m) of taxpayers’ money to refurbish it. <\/p>\n
Cabinet ministers on Thursday said anyone who published images or footage of the estate would face arrest. <\/p>\n
A group of South African editors described the warning as “absurd”.<\/p>\n
The Times newspaper has the headline “So, arrest us”, above a picture of the luxury thatched-roof compound.<\/p>\n
The Star newspaper has a photo of the homestead with a big red cross over it and the caption: “Look away! What ministers don’t want you to see”.<\/p>\n
The upgrades to Mr Zuma’s private residence include a helipad and an underground bunker, which the government says are needed for security reasons.<\/p>\n
The contract is being investigated by South Africa’s public protector, or anti-corruption watchdog, Thuli Madonsela, amid allegations that costs were inflated, and that the renovations went far beyond what the rules allow for a politician’s private home. <\/p>\n
Earlier this month, security ministers went to court to try to block Ms Madonsela from publishing her report. <\/p>\n
State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele on Thursday warned newspapers:<\/p>\n
“No-one, including those in the media, is allowed to take images and publicise images even pointing where the possible security features are,” he said.<\/p>\n
“It is not done anywhere. We have not seen the images of the White House showing where the security features are. It is not done in any democracy.”
\nAwkward for ANC<\/p>\n
Following the publication of the photos, the government has issued a statement, saying that newspapers are within their rights to publish photos of the estate but “zooming into safety and security features… is a challenge as it compromises national security”.<\/p>\n
The newspaper editors say the public paid for the upgrades and have a right to see how their money was spent. <\/p>\n
The warning has created public outrage, with many expressing their dissatisfaction on Twitter and also posting pictures of the home. <\/p>\n
The main opposition has lambasted the upgrade and called for investigations into why so much was spent and whether Mr Zuma was aware of the cost burden to the state. <\/p>\n
The Democratic Alliance has always insisted that the upgrade was not only morally wrong and unjustifiable given the country’s social needs, but that it is also possibly illegal. <\/p>\n
Other opposition parties have called it an abuse of state funds. <\/p>\n
They also want to know why Mr Zuma’s home was classified as a place of national security, despite being a private residence. <\/p>\n
BBC Africa correspondent Andrew Harding says the issue is an awkward one for the governing African National Congress (ANC), with elections approaching next year. <\/p>\n
He says it also touches on deeper concerns about the undermining of South Africa’s young, but vital, democratic institutions.<\/p>\n
BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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