"I know what I did wrong and what I did right and I am prepared to take the hit for what I did wrong, but I will not take the hit for what I did not do wrong," Jean Rindel, 40, told the Afrikaans daily.

He is project manager of the department's regional office in Durban which was charged with the Nkandla project.

He reportedly hoped the truth came out and that justice prevailed, but would not take responsibility for other's transgressions.

Rindel was the first of several department officials to appear at a disciplinary hearing over the R246 million upgrades to President Jacob Zuma's private Nkandla homestead in KwaZulu-Natal.

The charges included financial misconduct and flouting tender procedures.

Rindel jokingly called himself the "chief suspect" but said he took the matter very seriously.

The hearing was one of a number of processes currently underway after the public protector found not all the upgrades at Zuma's home were for security.

The Mercury has reported that Rindel hired architect Minenhle Makhanya for the Nkandla project. The Special Investigating Unit has gone to court to try to claim R155m back from Makhanya.