Photo: Giordano Stolley/SAPA

Supporters outside President Jacob Zuma's residence in the Nkandla area in KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday, 4 November 2012 dance in the street in protest against Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille's planned inspection of his residence.

Johannesburg — Parliament's public accounts watchdog committee Scopa will question the public works department on the upgrade of President Jacob Zuma's private home in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, according to a report on Wednesday.

Standing Committee on Public Accounts chairman Themba Godi reportedly told the Citizen newspaper that the Democratic Alliance requested that Scopa investigate the Nkandla expenditure.

"We are not going to launch a separate investigation," he told the newspaper.

"We will inquire about the Nkandla project when the department of public works present its financial report to the committee."

Godi added that a date for the briefing would be confirmed on Wednesday.

DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko said the party would closely monitor the preliminary investigation and ensure that all the details related to the upgrade of Zuma's personal home are brought before the committee by the department.

"The DA will ensure that Scopa does not abdicate its responsibilities to investigate fully the Nkandla upgrade," Mazibuko told the Citizen.

"While the first step towards doing so, we cannot allow the preliminary investigation to be used as a mechanism by the African National Congress to block or delay a full investigation by Parliament."

Mazibuko said Godi must follow thorough with his commitment as the chairman of the Parliament's watchdog.

Reports have estimated the cost of the work to be between R203 million and R238 million. Zuma would reportedly pay only five percent of the bill-around R10 million.