R15 million was spent on renovating Zulu king Goodwill Zwelithini's palaces the in 2012/13 financial year.
|||Pietermaritzburg - KwaZulu-Natal spent R15 million in renovating Zulu king Goodwill Zwelithini's palaces in 2012/13 financial year, premier Zweli Mkhize said on Thursday.
He revealed the figure when tabling a budget of R63 million for the department of the royal household, in the provincial legislature.
He said R20m of the new budget was allocated for “the overall maintenance of the royal household infrastructure, including the refurbishment of palaces.
“The real challenge is that most of the palaces may require major reconstruction due to the age of these structures.:”
Mkhize said the allocation would also be responsible for providing domestic services to the palaces.
Construction at Ingwavuma Palace had been delayed due to poor performance by the contractor. This led to the appointment of a new contractor and the project would resume in the 2013/14 financial year.
Renovations at the royal residences included the construction of two double-storey rondavels, a single floor rondavel, a garage with living quarters and a cool room at Dlamahlahla Palace.
There were also renovations to the king’s main house, of the king’s first house and water reticulation at KwaKhetha Palace and the upgrading of the security fence at Linduzulu Palace.
New air conditioners, the installation of geysers, the replacement of broken doors and windows, the upgrading of security lights and plumbing work at the Nyokeni Palace would be done in 2013/14 financial year. - Sapa