Zuma's swimming pool 'needed to fight fires', South African minister says

South Africa's police minister said on Thursday President Jacob Zuma would not be liable to repay money spent on security upgrades to his rural home, which opposition parties have slammed as lavish and wasteful.

Police Minister Nathi Nhleko ruled that the upgrades, which have provoked a public outcry and included a swimming pool and animal enclosure, were legitimate security features.

"The state president is therefore not liable to pay for any of these security features," he said.

Nhleko's findings contrast to those of Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, who investigated upgrades which cost more than US$20 million in total.

Last year, Madonsela ruled Zuma had benefited unduly from the upgrades to his Nkandla home and recommended he pay back some of the money.

But Nhleko said the swimming pool, which he called a "fire pool", was needed for fire-fighting purposes and the animal enclosure was required to prevent cattle and chickens from setting off motion detectors.