ANCYL accuses Madonsela of leaks

07/02/2013. Public Protector Thuli Madonsela during a media briefing on some of her finalised investigations yesterday. Picture: Thobile Mathonsi

07/02/2013. Public Protector Thuli Madonsela during a media briefing on some of her finalised investigations yesterday. Picture: Thobile Mathonsi

Published Dec 2, 2013

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Johannesburg - Public Protector Thuli Madonsela seems to be leaking reports to the media, the African National Congress Youth League said on Monday.

“Her modus operandi must be investigated by relevant law enforcement agencies, since she is not above the law,” said ANCYL spokesman Bandile Masuku.

He said the way Madonsela had handled the investigation into President Jacob Zuma's Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, home compromised the outcome.

“It is not enough for her to distance herself from the leaked reports without taking any appropriate action against the media houses that continue to be the source of leaks.”

The Mail&Guardian reported on Friday that a leaked provisional report by Madonsela revealed Zuma had received substantial personal benefits from the multi-million rand upgrade to Nkandla.

While the government had stated that the upgrades were essential for Zuma's security, the newspaper reported that the upgrade was found by Madonsela to include a swimming pool, visitors' centre, amphitheatre, cattle kraal, marquee area, extensive paving, and new houses for relatives.

Madonsela's spokeswoman Kgalalelo Masibi said on Friday it was unethical and unlawful to publish the Public Protector's provisional reports.

“It violates section 7(2) of the Public Protector Act 23, 1994,” she said in a statement.

“As a rule, we do not comment on whatever purports to be a provisional report of the Public Protector, as those are not reports of the Public Protector.”

Masuku said Madonsela had compromised the office of the Public Protector.

“We, therefore, call for decisive action against her conduct, which leaves much to be desired,” he said.

He said the ANCYL wanted the outcome of the joint standing committee on intelligence committee (JSCI) to be implemented, particularly further investigation by the Auditor General, the Special Investigating Unit and the police.

“We insist that recommendations of the JSCI were sufficient in dealing with corruption and any act of criminality that may have been found, mainly pointing to contractors that inflated prices for the security upgrade of Nkandla.”

The JSCI found, among other things, no evidence that the public works department paid for the construction of Zuma's private houses.

Sapa

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