{"id":88918,"date":"2015-05-28T20:30:10","date_gmt":"2015-05-28T18:30:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=88918"},"modified":"2015-05-29T11:37:10","modified_gmt":"2015-05-29T09:37:10","slug":"is-zumas-fire-pool-worth-r4-million","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/government\/88918\/is-zumas-fire-pool-worth-r4-million\/","title":{"rendered":"This is what Zuma’s R4 million fire pool looks like"},"content":{"rendered":"

With a reported<\/a> price tag of\u00a0 just over R3.9<\/strong> million<\/strong>, South African president Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla ‘fire pool’ costs more than the average fiberglass unit commonly found in your neighbour’s back yard.<\/p>\n

Police Minister Nathi Nhleko on Thursday (28 May)\u00a0released his report on the controversial R246 million security upgrades to President Jacob Zuma\u2019s private home in Nkandla.<\/p>\n

In his presentation, he treated the media and live television viewers to a demonstration on how to use a ‘firepool’\u00a0– one of the most controversial features of the Nkandla home.<\/p>\n

According to Nhleko, the\u00a0R3.9 million swimming pool\u00a0“is first to be used for fire fighting, second, recreation in the homestead\u201d, revealing its true purpose as a vital security feature.<\/p>\n

Real estate experts have previously pegged the average cost of an eco pool at between R4,000 and R8,000 per square metre of swimming space – while an average pool of 3mx6m would cost around R70,000 to build.<\/p>\n

For a basic R4 million pool, one could thus expect a 500 square metre eco pool at the very least.<\/p>\n

From limited footage and photography of Nkandla, what can be seen of any pool facilities shows nothing that stand-out, at least not enough to warrant a near R4 million price tag.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>

A glimpse of a ‘fire pool’ can be seen in some aerial shots of Nkandla<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Footage<\/a>

Footage from the demonstration also purportedly shows the Nkandla fire pool (via AFP\/Ben Sheppard<\/a>)<\/p><\/div>\n

By\u00a0comparison,\u00a0an Olympic size swimming pool is around 1,200 square metres, and can cost between $300,000 and\u00a0$500,000 (or more) to build, depending on the facilities required.<\/p>\n

Stretching far beyond the basics, BusinessTech looked at some of the more finer pools around the globe, both private and commercial, showing off what true extravagance and excessive spending on water features can produce.<\/p>\n

Kitchukov Family Pool – $1 million \/ R12.15 million<\/h3>\n

This is the private, family pool of Bulgarians, Marian and Anthony Kitchukov, who found success in the plumbing business in the USA. The pool took 5 months to build and features waterfalls, fountains and a 4.5-meter waterslide.<\/p>\n

\"Kitchukov<\/a>

Kitchukov pool<\/p><\/div>\n

The Mountain – $2 million \/ R24.3 million<\/h3>\n

This 43m\u00a0pool in Springville, Utah cost the family $2 million to build and features a\u00a0‘mountain’ built as a feature, using steel beams and a lot of concrete.<\/p>\n

The pool also features five waterfalls, is deep enough to practice diving in, and has a water slide for the kids and the young at heart.<\/p>\n