I don't think this was the first time Madonsela's son was driving her government car, we found out because of the accident. she should know better.

Well, this sort of thing happens in the best of families every other day. Just happens to be that this family is high-profile. It will probably not happen again in this particular family. Let the mother pay for damages and let's get on with real issues.

it's her work car paid for by us the tax payer, it shouldn't be used by the rest of her family. it is the same as stealing office supplies for your children. fraud I say.

Madonsela's real character is coming off the woodwork. The vainglory could not be sustained because it is built on a society hankering after something even with the remotest indication of standing up to corruption. The corrupt state enjoyed this pretension as it was the only "success" it could brandish to the myopic public.

Not very long the skeletons of Waweth will resurface again, and once the color of the stain stick it stays for keeps. Defenceless individuals are yearning for protection whilst she is using their tax money to lend credence to her corrupt political masters.

Interestingly, the same media bent on raising her flag is mum about the journalists who faced the raw state's violence, and even imminent death, by informing the public about the real facts.

Almost every boy one time or another steals his parents car. It is naughty but it is nice. I know I did and I also pranged it. Took me a while before I could sit properly though. My dad gave me a good hiding and paid the damages.

''''''''''I have already made contact with the owners of the affected property and agreed to compensate them for the damage'''''''''

Trying to sound as if she will stand good for the damage out of her own pocket...... Well, you have no other option as to pay for all the damage as the insurance will not pay out in the case where the vehicle was used by an unauthorised person.

Before I comment, I want to know one thing; is Madonsela paying for the damage or the taxpayer?

Alice in Wonderland is in fact Alice. Funny how these things come back to bite your behind, like Tutu and son, Trevor. Sounds like most households have these renegade children - shaming their righteous parents. It doesn't make sense to fight corruption in the world while it festers in your own house. Its worse when parents are covering up the rot because Wantu's next corrupt stunt will be definitely be more than stealing super mommy's government car and petrol card. Wouldn't be surprised if he is not smoking weed already, drugs or a Malema foundation style tenderpreneur sleek. Gee, love my day job.

God damn it Ms Madonsela, God damn it! With you, no amount of apology or cooperation could be enough. Your position demands a foresight to distinguish between wrong and right. And family members should be cognisant of your responsibility and what is expected of them to help you deliver on your mandate. I’m so angry and disappointed at you right now. Having said this, I remain a supporter of your office and appreciate your efforts. However, let this be a lesson to last you your whole career at the helm of the Public Protector’s Office. My confidence in you is not a blank cheque.

The day Thuli gets sympathy from me is the day she runs after the crooks that stole and sold off our gold, diamonds and platinum and made trillions which they hid via offshore accounts and opened up banks and other companies in SA. Some of these monies were also borrowed as "apartheid loans" from IMF and World Bank is being paid for by you and I SA's taxpayers......Sies!!!! Thuli then says she doesnt have the money to investigate all these and the media cowers in covering this story AS MUCH AS IT SHOULD but instead will highlight all other "forms" of corruption in our country.......All Corruption is bad: be it ANC, DA or Apartheid era. People must fry for it but let us be balanced and not have a vendetta against one section!!!

We see you Thuli, we see you!!! Now ofcourse, we see you cant even protect us from your thieving son. 2 wrongs dont make a right.....Just because you all stole your fathers vehicles at some point in your lives, doesnt make it right for this 23 year old twit to do the same. Imagine if you or this moegoe had killed someone..........and then what??!!

I applaud the work Madonsela had done, but I loath the fact that she has let the biggest scum off the hook with our trillions. Deal with them too, and then you will get my full respect coz right now it just seems as though you are only chasing after one section of people and the publicity is causing you to forget about the other wrong do-ers.

By reading some of the above comments it is obvious that our public protector is not liked by all.
I, however, differ. Taking this whole incident, and ONLY the incident of her son taking her car, I think she is handeling it excellently! And that after all is what counts.
How many of you have been told regularly what is wrong and right, but still break the rules?
How many of you/us have children who, no matter how much you teach them right from wrong, still take a chance? I would probably have to say - all of you/us.
This is a minor incident compared to what some politician's children are doing.

........How come all the supporters of the ANC and Juju and extras have become all of a sudden 'defenders of truth and honesty???????'......HA HA HA HA HA.......

At least Madonsela has not recurred to the typical excuses/justifications so loved by ANC hypocrites: "there is a racist conspiracy against her and her family"...."the apartheid agents are plotting against her".........HA HA HA HA HA........

doesn't Madonsela have a luxury car of her own that her son could have stolen? if she doesn't, then she should buy one pronto!

Come on guyz and girlz. Stop speculating and commenting on issues if you don't know the facts. Resigning, m1si? This matter is not so damning that she should resign. I admire her for doing the right thing - and that is to take responsibility.

Love the fact at least someone in the public office is prepared to take responsibility for their mistake/actions - regardless of the fact that her son shouldn't have been in possession of the car, this woman is a breath of fresh air from the rotting stench that we find ourselves surrounded by....

as a good parent, she should have made sure the car keys are not easily accessible to her delinquent son. she should have locked them up somewhere or left them with her bodyguards.

It's very unfortunate that Mandosela's reputation is tarnished by her mischievious son, ultimately this is an offence as the car could not be driven without madonsela's passengership, so she should face the music accordingly

Mkhambathi
Posted 3 hours ago
"certainly, but what I like is the response from her rather being hard headed and arrogant"

It's not as if she had a choice since she has made so many enemies out there (powers that be). Her son offered an interview to her favourite radio station, her mother's mouth piece, voice of reason and her mentor radio presenters.

the whole thing about her son taking the car without her permission is just a story, just like many people lie to insurance companies. I am sure the boy has been driving this car for some time with her knowledge and that of her bodyguards. how come nobody saw him 'steal' the car? and yet when he returned he was able to "report it to the bodyguards" who had miraculously appeared. the boy was doing what he does all the time, only this time he had an accident.

and oh, when you see a dog, you hit your breaks, you don't swerve while maintaining the same speed. maybe the boy had been drinking 'tea' just like judge Motata.

Madonsela is a responsible citzen. Her demeanor is very admirable, unlike other politicians we know. I mean both ANC and DA - because as far as I am concerned DA politicains are not morally superior to those of the ANC. They are former NATS and CPs so they cannot be 'born-again' all of a sudden.
Its all rotten.

When I read the comments on this report it is clear to me that South Africa has a long way to go as a people. We are looking at every opportunity to crucify one another even the good people.

there are no holy cows here!

The son should be prosecuted and the law must take it's course although Madonsela has to be applauded for her honesty and integrity in dealing with this matter.It must surely be an embarresment to her but she held her head high and did the right thing even though it may be a black mark on her career.The country is crying out for people of her caliber.

People in this forum have no life. How on earth do you get preoccupied by a story of someone' son who happen to hit a wall with his mommy's car?

Are you people ever productive at work? You say people are lazy, but what about you. Talk of hypocricy

The Daily maverick publishes this column with some paragraphs the usual pro ANC sanctimonious hbypocritoons prefer to ignore. To them this is dedicated:

""""Mistakes and bad judgement calls happen. BUT AS JUDGE NKOLA MOTATA, ROBERT MCBRIDE, AND JACKSON MTHEMBU HAVE SHOWN US, IT IS WHAT COMES NEXT THAT REALLY COUNTS. With more than enough enemies out to get her, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela has shown that, in the face of calamity, she can be a model of accountability""""

""Robert McBride was driving home from a Christmas party when he rolled his state vehicle while drunk. Instead of taking the high road and coming clean, he staged a cover up with fellow metro officers. It is this action that shamed McBride and led to a charge of defeating the ends of justice, in addition to a drunk driving charge. McBride was convicted on both charges." (Legal expenses paid by the tax-payer of course)

"""".....A year later, Judge Nkola Motata was on his way home from drinking wine with a friend when he crashed his Jaguar into the wall of a house in Johannesburg. Despite being a judge, Motata didn’t do the honourable thing. Instead Motata drunkenly appealed to bystanders to help him get off the hook: "All of you, let me tell you, my brothers and sisters – these people should not catch us. Let us live, we are the majority and this is our land. It is not the land of the boers, even if they have big bodies. South Africa is ours, we rule it," he slurred.""""(Legal expenses paid by the SA tax-payer of course AND his salary religiously)........


and to the credit of Jackson Daniels Mtehmbu who must have an epiphany moment:

""""Jackson Mthembu has also had his troubles with drinking and driving, but unlike Motata and McBride, handled it completely differently. The African National Congress spokesman was driving under the influence in Cape Town in March 2010 when he was arrested. He continued doing his job in a professional manner while in police custody, handling a matter regarding Julius Malema and granting comment to Sapa. Mthembu pleaded guilty, was fined and expressed the right kind of remorse: "I'm sorry for what I have done. I'm sorry for letting you down," Mthembu said. It was a statement that won him sympathy, respect and forgiveness."""""