Joint statement on a meeting between the Public Protector and the Minister of Communications

Public Protector Adv. Thuli Madonsela and the Minister of Communications, Hon. Faith Muthambi, MP met in Pretoria on Wednesday, 20 August 2014.

The meeting was in connection with the investigation into the alleged irregular appointment of Mr Hlaudi Motsoeneng as permanent Chief Operations Officer of the SABC as well as other matters of mutual concern.

It followed the subpoena served on the Minister on 7 August 2014, calling upon her to appear before the Public Protector on 26 August 2014 in connection with the investigation.

The Public Protector earlier agreed to the Minister’s request that the meeting be brought forward to 20 or 21 August 2014 due to prior parliamentary commitments that clashed with the initial meeting date.

The meeting was cordial, fruitful and informative on the mandate of the Public Protector vis-à-vis the role and functions of the Minister and her Department with regard to the investigation.

Both the Minister and the Public Protector agreed on a way forward in addressing the matter as well as other issues of mutual concern. They acknowledged the fact that the matter under investigation is also under judicial scrutiny in the Western Cape Division of the High Court.

In conclusion, the Public Protector and the Minister committed their respective offices to work in a spirit of cooperative governance in line with the provisions of Chapter 3 of the Constitution.

For more information, contact:
Kgalalelo Masibi
Spokesperson
Public Protector South Africa
(012) 366 7006
079 507 0399
kgalalelom@pprotect.org

or

Bongiwe Gambu
Spokesperson
Minister of Communications
Tel: 012 473 0036
0827149463
E-mail: bongiwe@gcis.gov.za