The facts about Sassa’s food parcels

My right of reply response “M&G blurred lines on Madonsela’s report” (May 13) contained an error on my part. My instruction for the organising of food parcels by South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) officials, on page 8 of the public protector’s report, was in fact substantiated.

But this doesn’t detract from several critical findings, none of which were reflected in the Mail & Guardian’s article “Thuli reads ANC the riot act” (May 6). First, the report found that the event was not a departmental or Sassa event, but was organised by the ANC Youth League “in terms of its own internal resolution and using its own resources.” Thus the claim that it was organised by the state was unsubstantiated.

Second, the food parcels were donated by a private company.

Third, my instruction to Sassa officials was to distribute food parcels at a Sassa event. The public protector’s report found no evidence that I had instructed they be distributed at a Youth League event. Because the handing out of the food parcels by the league appeared to have been sanctioned by Sassa, there was a rec- ommendation that Sassa put clear policies in place to ensure such a perception is not created again.

The article didn’t indicate that, as the report notes, I wasn’t present when the food was handed out.

Omission of these critical findings, and focus only on certain claims, was mischievous selective reporting. I stand by my position that the public protector’s report doesn’t recommend remedial action against me. In the interests of fairness, the M&G should publish the report in full.