ANCYL questions Protector’s integrity

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela. File photo: Thobile Mathonsi

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela. File photo: Thobile Mathonsi

Published Feb 20, 2014

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Johannesburg - The integrity of Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's office was questioned by the African National Congress Youth League on Thursday.

“All her reports are leaked before it is released,” ANCYL national convenor Mzwandile Masina told reporters in Johannesburg.

“We are worried about the integrity of her office... She is very mischievous.”

He said the youth league was concerned that various reports from Madonsela's office were first leaked in the media before she released them.

This raised concerns on the processes within Madonsela's office.

Madonsela should read the legislation on the office of the protector and stay within her jurisdiction, he said.

“We think that there is something wrong with that public protector and we know there is so much excitement from the public waiting for her reports,” Masina said.

“We think she is doing a disservice and we can't wait for her term to end and we won't be surprised of what will happen to her when her term ends.”

Turning to Madonsela's report on SABC acting chief operations officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng, released on Monday, Masina said the report had no new information.

He said the ANCYL read the content from the leaked report and then the actual report had the exact same content.

Madonsela found, among other things, Motsoeneng's appointment at the public broadcaster and his salary progression were irregular.

Masina said he could not see that Motsoeneng had committed fraud and Madonsela should release a full report on his highest qualifications.

He said it was because of Motsoeneng the SABC had a 24 hour news TV channel.

Masina also touched on Madonsela's report into President Jacob Zuma's private Nkandla homestead in KwaZulu-Natal due to be released in March.

Controversy has surrounded Zuma's private homestead which was upgraded at a cost of over R206 million.

The Mail & Guardian reported in November that Madonsela had found in her preliminary report that Zuma had misled Parliament and had benefited substantially from the upgrade.

On Thursday, Masina said when she releases the report she should be invited to go to Nkandla.

“She is deliberating wanting to mess with the minds of South Africans for them to believe indeed there was something wrong 1/8at Nkandla 3/8,” he said.

“For us that report has no credibility whatsoever because already we are seized with issues she is contemplating on that report.”

Masina said Madonsela should serve the public and not individuals and that he would not be surprised to see her as a future presidential candidate for the Democratic Alliance.

He called Madonsela an “agent of the DA”.

“You are female, you are black Ä they can invite you. We won't be surprised if she is invited because they are so generous about anyone who is opposing the African National Congress,” he said.

Sapa

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