Mentor lashes new Public Protector for Madonsela ‘lies’

Former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor. Photo: Facebook

Former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor. Photo: Facebook

Published Nov 28, 2016

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Johannesburg - Former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor on Sunday lashed out at Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane for claiming she reported her predecessor Thuli Madonsela for leaking the audio recording on state capture.

The former MP said she would lay criminal charges and report Mkhwebane to the General Council of the Bar for her alleged conduct.

Mkhwebane had said Mentor was one of the people who complained about the leaking of the audio recording on state capture.

The public protector laid criminal charges against Madonsela, for the leaked audio recording.

Madonsela had said in the past that she released the audio recording of the interview with President Jacob Zuma because she wanted people to know she had given him the opportunity to respond to the allegations about state capture.

She added she didn’t believe she had done anything wrong by releasing it.

Madonsela couldn’t be reached for comment on Sunday.

On her Facebook page, Mentor accused Mkhwebane of being a liar.

She said she would take action against her for claiming she had complained about the leaking of the audio recording.

Mentor, who was the portfolio committee on public enterprises chairperson before she left Parliament, said she would report Mkhwebane to the General Council of the Bar.

“I never complained to Mkhwebane about Thuli leaking any tapes,” wrote Mentor. “How can an advocate lie like this? I am heading to the Bar Council and she will have to pay me hugely.

“I will be laying charges against her. This is so galling.”

It was reported Sunday that Mkhwebane laid criminal charges against Madonsela on November 11 for leaking the tapes. This was almost a month after she took office.

Zuma had complained to the public protector about the leak.

Madonsela later admitted to being behind it, saying she didn’t flout any laws because the investigation had been completed by then.

Zuma is taking Madonsela’s State of Capture report to court for review. He said a team of lawyers were working on challenging the report in court.

Zuma has denied that he was involved in state capture and said the report was inconclusive.

The state capture claimed its first victim three weeks ago when Eskom chief executive Brian Molefe resigned.

Molefe, who was also implicated in the document, accused Madonsela of finding him guilty without giving him an opportunity to respond.

He said he too would take the report on review.

Plan to charge new public protector for 'lies'

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