Madonsela lashes back at MP critics

THE bickering and attacks on Public Protector Thuli Madonsela over her office’s report on Nkandla have caused a “worrying defiant trend” among state officials‚ she said yesterday.

Madonsela has been at the centre of a storm over her findings that President Jacob Zuma had unduly benefited from the upgrades to his private residence at Nkandla.

Even the title of the report‚ Secure in Comfort‚ has been attacked by ANC parliamentarians.

But a parliamentary ad hoc committee refused to give Madonsela a chance to appear before it and respond to criticism. Yesterday, she responded at a media briefing‚ and made direct reference to parliamentary speaker Baleka Mbete.

Madonsela told journalists she and her team were concerned that the “safety and value” of her office were being eroded, and gave an example.

She also noted the refusal by parliament to give her office muchneeded resources – which was likely linked to the furore around the Nkandla upgrades.

She outlined 10 “misunderstandings” that had emerged from the work of the ad hoc committee‚ which had escalated after MPs visited Nkandla two weeks ago.

Among them was the classification of certain items as security and non-security items – she indicated that the swimming pool was‚ in fact‚ described as such in minutes of meetings held to plan the upgrades‚ and in a document compiled by the then deputy public works minister.

Similarly‚ it was government officials who described the amphitheatre as having dual purposes – a gathering place and a soil retention wall. Also‚ whether the swimming pool was dirty‚ or the visitors’ centre too small or not‚ as observed by MPs after their visit to Nkandla‚ was irrelevant‚ Madonsela said.

Her job was to investigate whether there was the necessary authority to construct the items‚ and the maintenance of these items was not part of her job.

In reaction, the DA called on the parliamentary ad hoc committee on Nkandla to set aside the Police Minister Nathi Nhleko’s report.

The chairman of the DA’s federal executive‚ James Selfe‚ said the DA had long contended that Nhleko’s report emanated “from a compromised minister given that he is appointed by President Zuma which we submit rises to a conflict of interest that may‚ in fact‚ be at odds with the constitution”. — BDlive and RDM News Wire