COPE urges South Africans to stand up and defend Madonsela

08 May 2016 - 20:25 By TMG Digital

The Congress of the People party (COPE) has urged South Africans to stand up and defend Public Protector Thuli Madonsela. This follows a report in the Sunday Times stating that Madonsela was living in fear of her life after she was warned that a prominent Western Cape gang boss had been paid to arrange a hit on her. Saying the party was “deeply disturbed” by the report‚ COPE spokesman Dennis Bloem said it could never condone the activities of criminals and rogue elements wanting to “take our key institutions hostage”.“Neither can we allow anyone to intimidate our Public Protector. She must remain free and safe‚ for the little time she has left in office‚ to act fairly and fearlessly against those who violate the Constitution of our country and who undermine the rule of law. Not even the person occupying the highest position in the land must escape censure if he deserves to be censured‚” asserted Bloem. He charged that members of the ruling party had been trying to intimidate Madonsela for many months in recent years.“They have little appreciation for her work or the enormous difficulties and dangers she faces. The ruling party sees her as a stumbling block to their freedom to act dishonestly and to abuse power with impunity‚” Bloem added.“Just as he disbanded the Scorpions‚ Mr Zuma must wish he had a bigger majority in parliament which would have allowed him to alter the Constitution and do away with the Public Protector’s office‚” he stated‚ adding that fortunately the President did not have that power. Madonsela had served South Africa “magnificently and she needs all the protection and support she can from us”‚ said Bloem...

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