Protector: No truth in Thuli charges

PUBLIC Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane yesterday denied laying criminal charges against her predecessor, Thuli Madonsela, over leaked recordings related to the report on state capture.

“It’s not true that advocate Mkhwebane laid charges against her predecessor. Instead, she opened a case at the Brooklyn police station in Pretoria, requesting an investigation into the alleged leaks to establish if they amount to a breach of section 7(2) of the Public Protector Act,” her office said in a statement.

“The decision to open a case was informed by complaints from the Presidency and the Office of the Speaker of the National Assembly.”

In terms of section 7 (2) of the Public Protector Act, no one can disclose information, evidence or record of evidence unless the public protector directs otherwise.

Madonsela, who has admitted to leaking the audio conversation between herself and President Jacob Zuma, who was implicated in her “State of Capture” report, compiled the report. However, due to court action from Zuma, the report was only released after Mkhwebane had taken over.

Mkhwebane said she also received queries from another publication claiming to have recordings of Madonsela’s interview with former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor.

She said she was concerned the leakages could seriously compromise the trust the public had in her office.

“We need to safeguard whatever evidence such people, including whistle-blowers, give to us,” Mkhwebane is quoted as saying in the statement.