Pretoria - The much anticipated press briefing by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela following her investigation into allegations of maladministration relating to financial mismanagement and tender and appointment irregularities against the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) has been postponed to allow for further representations.
In a statement, Kgalalelo Masibi, spokesperson for the office of the Public Protector, said the report would now be released on August 3.
“The decision to postpone comes after some of the implicated parties approached the Public Protector on Wednesday, requesting that she postpones the release of the report on the basis that they wished to make representations to her on issues that are central to the investigation,” said Masibi.
She said the some “interested parties” to the investigation claimed that there had been delays in received documents from the Public Protector through the Prasa chief executive.
In terms of the Public Protector Act, implicated parties in an investigation should be awarded ample opportunity “to respond in connection therewith, in any manner that may be expedient under the circumstances”, the statement from the Public Protector said.
Masibi said it was in the interest of fairness that Public Protector Thuli Madonsela had decided to accede to the parties’ request.
Last week, the Prasa board led by Popo Molefe axed outspoken chief executive Lucky Montana.
ANA