Johannesburg - The Young Communist League has rubbished Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s Nkandla report even before its release to the public.
It says that South Africans must not read anything into her impending interim report into the R206 million upgrades at President Jacob Zuma’s private home.
The league claims Madonsela’s “extremely clumsy handling of the report shows that she has turned her office into Hollywood, which should cast doubt on the legitimacy and credibility of the eagerly anticipated report”.
“We have an advocate who is basically messing up with the law and who has been found wanting,” said Buti Manamela, the league’s national secretary.
He was speaking to journalists on Sunday at Cosatu’s headquarters in Braamfontein, Joburg, a week after ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe and the government’s security cluster ministers led an onslaught against Madonsela.
Manamela said, while the league was in favour of “an activist” public protector, Madonsela had compromised her office in her handling of the Nkandla probe.
“It is our view that using the media (against Zuma) and a report that is yet to be released in a manner that casts aspersions on some of the affected people who have not been given the said report, amounts to abuse of state power and constitutes a serious violation of their rights.”
Madonsela’s spokesman, Oupa Segalwe, dismissed Manamela’s claims on Sunday.
“The public protector is on record assuring the public of her office’s continued independence and impartiality. All investigations and reports are conducted and prepared without fear, favour or prejudice.”
This came as an unfazed Madonsela reportedly vowed to go to jail over her probe and the protection of her office’s autonomy.
The Star