Van Rooyen also seeks to interdict Madonsela's state capture report

Minister Des van Rooyen is reportedly also seeking to bring a court application to try stop the release of the public protector's report on state capture.

News24 reported on Thursday that Van Rooyen’s application will challenge the powers of the public protector to summons him to answer certain questions.

The Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs minister's application comes after President Jacob Zuma served Thuli Madonsela with a notice of intention to interdict her, which will mean the Public Protector will not be able to release the report on Friday, as she had planned.

A source in Madonsela's office told TimesLIVE: "We cannot proceed to release the report until the court has decided whether or not to grant the interdict."

Madonsela questioned Zuma for four hours earlier this month over the state capture allegations, including the suggestion that deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas had been offered a promotion by the Guptas.

Last year, Zuma sacked Nhlanhla Nene as finance minister and replaced him with then relatively unknown Van Rooyen, sparking a wave of financial turmoil. Van Rooyen only lasted four days before he was replaced by Pravin Gordhan.
 
Gordhan meanwhile has been summoned to court on separate fraud charges. The finance minister has alleged that the case against him is politically motivated.

Friday is Madonsela's final day in office. She will be succeeded by Busisiwe Mkhwebane.