Religious leaders attack Madonsela

Cape Town. 221113. Public Protector Thuli Madonsela speaking at the University of Stellenbosch Campus as part of conferance of the National Development Plan. Picture Leon Lestrade. Story Jan Cronje

Cape Town. 221113. Public Protector Thuli Madonsela speaking at the University of Stellenbosch Campus as part of conferance of the National Development Plan. Picture Leon Lestrade. Story Jan Cronje

Published Mar 13, 2014

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Johannesburg -

Some Christian religious leaders criticised Public Protector Thuli Madonsela on Thursday, accusing her of “poisoning the atmosphere” in the country.

“Our main bone of contention is that the public protector is poisoning the atmosphere in our country by her general demeanour in the execution of her duties, particularly in the matters of advocate Pansy Tlakula and SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng,” bishop Pule Makgethi told journalists in Johannesburg.

The religious leaders said they represented African independent churches which had a combined membership of over one million.

They came together to address media out of concern for “demonic forces which planned to derail the revolution and the freedom of our people”.

In her report released in August 2013, Madonsela found that Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) chairwoman Tlakula acted irregularly in the procurement of the IEC office building in Centurion, south of Pretoria.

Madonsela also investigated allegations by some SABC staff against Motsoeneng.

The report, titled “When Ethics Fail”, found Motsoeneng's appointment was irregular, as was his salary progression. She found his salary increased from R1.5 million to R2.4m in one year.

Makgethi said although they respected Madonsela's office and her work, they would not do so blindly.

“We are not investigating the public protector, we are merely responding as we have observed, and as community leaders guide, educate and inform our members.”

The leaders' conclusion was that Madonsela wanted to deliberately leave an impression that Motsoeneng was a “corrupt and uncontrollable person”.

Regarding Tlakula, Makgethi said Madonsela had used “insinuations” to poison the thinking of the public so that it could lose confidence in her ability to lead the IEC. -Sapa

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