DA lashes out at public protector

PUBLIC protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane is dancing to President Jacob Zuma’s tune and acting on his behalf to undo the valuable work done by her predecessor‚ Thuli Madonsela‚ the DA said.

The party was responding to reports that Mkhwebane had laid a criminal charge against Madonsela following a complaint from Zuma.

The Sunday Times quoted Mkhwebane as saying she opened the case at the Brooklyn police station in Pretoria two weeks ago in connection with the “leaking” of an audiotape of an interview Madonsela had with Zuma during her “state capture” investigation.

Madonsela admitted to giving the audiotape of her interview with Zuma to news channel eNCA.

The recording is damaging because it disproves Zuma’s claim that he was never given a chance to put forward his side of the story.

The DA’s spokeswoman on justice issues‚ Glynnis Breytenbach, said yesterday while Zuma had every right to lodge a grievance with the public protector‚ it was telling that Mkhwebane had jumped straight to criminal charges‚ without conducting further investigations. “Zuma is also perfectly capable of laying a criminal charge against Madonsela if he feels aggrieved and should not rely on Mkhwebane to do so.

“That she did so speaks to a general attitude and pre-disposition to protect and act in the interest of Zuma‚ and not in the interests of the people of SA‚” Breytenbach said.

“This latest action only adds to an ever increasing list of worrying acts‚ including changing all the locks at the public protector’s offices and redeploying staff who worked closely with Madonsela to undermine and expunge [her] work‚” Breytenbach added.

“We are now seeing the consequences of her appointment.” — TMG Digital

● See also page 7