Staff Reporter

Manokwane residents are willing to go to the highest court in the land after they say the North West Provincial Legislature failed them dismally.

The residents are spitting fire after the North West Provincial Legislature failed to pitch for the scheduled meeting.

“We are now going to take the matter into our own hands after North West Provincial government failed us” said one protester

“They are very sublime and we have been asking for their interference in this matter. We have been submissive thinking that eventually our call will be heed,but no one is willing to listen” said another resident.

The meeting between the Manokwane residents and North West Provincial Legislature was supposed to take place on thursday.

According to the residents they are demanding a tarred road that links their village to town. They also demand clinic in their area and runnining water.

The residents once burnt down their headmaster’s house and the other one belongs to their councillor.

Our attempt to get a respond from Department proved futile.

President Jacob Zuma’s spokesman has reserved comment regarding Sunday reports that the cost of an upgrade to Zuma’s home had ballooned from R6.4 million to R248 million in two years.

“As you aware, the president has indicated various investigations are going on into different aspects. He has appealed to us all to await the outcomes,” said Zuma’s spokesman Mac Maharaj.

According to City Press, there were inconsistencies in the disclosed spending.

In 2010, then public works minister Geoff Doidge told parliament the Nkandla upgrade would cost R6.4 million in total, with R5.7

million spent on professional fees.

Another, undated, Public Works presentation had put the total expenditure for the department at R89 million and for Zuma personally at R23 million.

But in September, City Press had reported the state would spend R203 million on the project, with Zuma’s bill amounting to R10.06

million.

Zuma told parliament last week he had paid for five additional houses, but previous documents indicated he was constructing only two dwellings. – Sapa