“It goes without saying that people who reside at President Zuma’s home have a right to protect themselves from anyone who invades their home.”  He said the Democratic Alliance ignored warnings not to march to the Congress of SA Trade Unions’ (Cosatu) headquarters in Johannesburg in May, and as a result several members were injured in a confrontation with the trade union federation.   “We don’t want to see the repeat of what happened at Cosatu House so we appeal to the DA to consider abandoning their plan.”  It the inspection of the home of a sitting head of state was ”unprecedented”.

“[We] want to remind the DA that… Zuma’s home is not a public place and we view the DA’s decision to go to the president’s home as unnecessary, provocative, and politically not calculated.”  The DA said on Thursday it was planning to visit Zuma’s private residence, where a R200 million upgrade was in progress.   Zille, accompanied by DA officials, would inspect roads around the property on Sunday and attempt to enter the compound.

The president’s private home will reportedly feature underground bunkers, a clinic, a fire station, special quarters for police, and a helipad.

Reports have estimated the cost of the work to be between R203 million and R238 million.   Zuma will reportedly pay only 5% of the bill — around R10 million.

The ANC said the inspection was a “publicity stunt” and if the DA needed to protest against the development of the house, it should do so before government.