AS SOUTH Africans react to the news that Jacob Zuma will have to pay back R7.8m for the upgrades at his Nkandla home, a question on many people’s minds is who will bankroll the president.
In March the Constitutional Court found that Zuma was personally liable for some of the R246m spent on his Nkandla homestead. It gave the Treasury 60 days to calculate a reasonable amount for Zuma to pay.
The Treasury — in its report submitted to the court on Monday — concluded that Zuma should pay back R7.8m. With four wives, more than 20 children and 45 days in which to pay up, Zuma will have to dig deep into his pockets — or call up his contacts for a way out.
READ THIS: DA says Zuma will still owe SA millions after R7.8m Nkandla repayment
The president is damned if he pays and damned if he does not. If he pays, he could find himself in the cross-hairs of the taxman, along with having to explain how he raised the money. Should he fail to pay, no doubt the Constitutional Court will not be amused, and neither will Public Protector Thuli Madonsela.
READ THIS: ‘All I ever wanted was compliance’, Madonsela says about Nkandla repayment
However, with the kinds of pals that Zuma has, it is unlikely he will come up short.
Top of his list of benefactors would be the following:
1. The Jacob Zuma Foundation
Embattled South African Airways chairwoman Dudu Myeni, who is also the chairwoman of the Jacob Zuma Foundation, could do some creative fundraising to get Zuma out his financial troubles.
2. The Friends of Zuma Foundation
KwaZulu-Natal construction tycoon Philani Mavundla, has previously offered to pay the money on Zuma’s behalf. In 2008 Mavundla slaughtered 20 cattle to celebrate Zuma becoming ANC president after defeating Thabo Mbeki at Polokwane.
3. The Gupta family
Although they are said to have left the country amid allegations of state capture, the filthy-rich family could still pull a few strings — never mind that they were locked out by local banks. They could do a paperless transfer or send an e-wallet from the Bank of Baroda.
4. Duduzane Zuma
The father has raised the son, and so it may be time for the president’s son to make a return on his father’s investment. Duduzane could get an advance on his dividends to assist his father, having succeeded, along with his partners, in putting up the money to buy Optimum mine for R2.15bn.
5. Khulubuse Zuma
Although he might soon be broke from his Aurora troubles, the president’s nephew might just have enough change lying around to throw at his uncle in his hour of need.
6. Vivian Reddy
The KwaZulu-Natal businessman, who has close links to the president, recently invested R700m on a hotel in Umhlanga. Nothing says best friends forever like a little electronic funds transfer to your buddy.
7. Mpumalanga ANC
Last month Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza said the party was willing to pay back Nkandla money on behalf of the president if he found himself short.
8. Robert Gumede
The Gijima founder and millionaire just showered the Mpumalanga ANC with 10 cars and 20 iPads. Surely he could have R7.8m for No 1.
9. Sbu and Shauwn Mpisane
Zuma could knock on the doors of fellow KwaZulu-Natal natives for assistance. The two have never been shy of showing off their money. In 2015 they gave each other his and hers Rolls-Royces.
10. Tokyo Sexwale
Although he lost out on the position of the ruling party’s president in Mangaung in 2012 and was dropped in a cabinet reshuffle, "billionaire" Sexwale might now be willing to repair their relationship.
11. Cyril Ramaphosa
The deputy president once famously bid R19.5m for a buffalo cow and he may be in a position to assist his boss.
12. The ANC Youth League
The Young Lions could also play their part in bankrolling the president. The league has its own financial problems but its president, Collen Maine, could sell his R5.4m house to help Zuma.
13. The ANC Women’s League
The ladies can show up at the president’s side to do what they are good at. While their purses might be thin, they can always be counted on to provide Zuma with emotional support.
