South African President Jacob Zuma has been cleared of corruption charges related to squandering public money on renovating his residence.

South Africa’s minister of police announced Thursday that Zuma will not be forced to repay the money he has spent on upgrading his private residence.

“The state president is therefore not liable to pay for any of the security features,” Nkosinathi Nhleko told reporters.

Zuma was accused of spending around USD 24 million of taxpayers’ money for upgrades at his private home, including building a luxury swimming pool, which Nhleko says was constructed for the sake of Zuma’s “security.”

The scandal, which emerged in November 2013, has seriously dogged the embattled president, although Zuma’s allies in the government tried to spare him public criticism by branding the exorbitant spending as "security upgrades." 

South Africa’s then public protector, however, filed a lawsuit against Zuma, saying he has derived “substantial personal benefit” from the upgrades.

Thuli Madonsela said building items like a swimming pool, an amphitheater and new houses for relocated relatives in the residence with public money could not be viewed as part of security upgrades.

MS/KA/HMV