Mbete about-turn on returning Thuli report

16 October 2016 - 02:01 By QAANITAH HUNTER

Confusion reigned this weekend over the whereabouts of the so-called state capture report. On Friday, outgoing public protector Thuli Madonsela said she had sent it to National Assembly speaker Baleka Mbete for safekeeping after a preservation order was granted by the High Court in Pretoria earlier in the day.story_article_left1Madonsela said the report had been sent to Mbete because her office reported directly to parliament.But on Friday night Mbete's office said she had returned the report to Madonsela's office, as the law required her to place it on public record by tabling it in the National Assembly and she was not able to do so in this instance.However, yesterday Mbete backtracked following the intervention of ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu, who said parliamentary communicators got it wrong when they said the speaker had returned the report.Mthembu said the report was "under lock and key" in parliament as requested by Madonsela, and would only be returned to the public protector's office when Busisiwe Mkhwebane assumed office tomorrow.story_article_right2DA chief w hip John Steenhuisen said Mbete's conduct smacked of contempt for the office of the public protector."Again Baleka Mbete has opted to wear her hat as ANC chairperson ... Her dismissive attitude to what is a report of significant public importance demonstrates parliament's continued disregard for accountability and lack of interest in supporting institutions which strengthen our democracy."In terms of the preservation order no one will have access to the report until the High Court in Pretoria hears an application to interdict it by President Jacob Zuma and Cooperative Governance Minister Des van Rooyen. The matter will be heard on November 1.Zuma and Van Rooyen argue in court papers that they needed more time to respond to the allegations.story_article_left3On Friday, lawyers for the public protector told the court Van Rooyen was not mentioned in the preliminary report which Madonsela had signed off on and was ready to be made public.The ANC head office, Luthuli House, on Friday said in a statement that it "looks forward to the imminent release of the state capture report" pending the court decision on the interdict being sought."The public protector's final report into the matter ... will assist the ANC and South Africa to gain clarity on the allegations and point to the resolution of the reported challenges," said ANC spokesman Zizi Kodwa...

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.