Presidency denies ignoring complaint
2013-02-14 11:47
Johannesburg - The presidency on Thursday denied a news report that the
government failed to help a man who had asked President Jacob Zuma to help him
buy a house.
"It is unfortunate that Mr Mali has sought publicity using information
he knows to be untrue," Zuma's spokesperson Mac Maharaj said in a
statement on Thursday morning, hours before the president was due to make his State
of the Nation address at the opening of Parliament.
The presidency was responding after Mzukisi Mali, from Grahamstown, told
eNews the government had failed to assist him.
"In his communication to the president, Mr Mali said his salary was too
high to qualify for an RDP house, and too low to get a mortgage bond," said
Maharaj.
"But it was discovered that Mr Mali earned more than the R15 000
threshold, and had a negative credit record. He works as a deputy director at
the department of labour and therefore does not qualify for this type of
assistance which is meant for low income earners."
Maharaj said government officials had visited Mali twice to explain to him
that he did not qualify.
- SAPA
