The Special Tribunal orders Nkandla project architect Minenhle Makhanya to repay more than R147 million to South Africa’s National Treasury. The decision follows findings by investigators that Makhanya’s appointment and contract with the Department of Public Works were invalid, and that the upgrades associated with the Nkandla project involved unlawful conduct.
The amounts connected to the Nkandla upgrades have been publicly contested for more than a decade, with reports noting the project’s original estimated cost and subsequent escalation into figures far higher than the initial security-related budget. Daily Maverick also frames the repayment order as part of the broader work by the Special Investigating Unit, while indicating that Makhanya’s liability is assessed in the context of claims that he did not act alone.
While outlets agree on the repayment order and its link to unlawful upgrades, their emphasis differs: IOL focuses on the invalid appointment and contract, while Daily Maverick highlights the long-running controversy over Nkandla’s cost and the SIU’s role in pursuing accountability.
