Public Protector’s IEC lease investigation on course

Public Protector Adv Thuli Madonsela, has noted with disappointment media comments attributed to Member of Parliament Mr Bantu Holomisa and commission employees, regarding her investigation into the procurement of a building by the IEC for its Headquarters.

 

The Public Protector wishes to place on record that Mr Holomisa has been given feedback by the Public Protector directly on previous one to one encounters. A letter was written to him on Friday, 29 June 2012 indicating the status of the investigation (copy attached). Incidentally, Adv Tlakula herself has also complained about the delay in finalising the investigation.

 

The Public Protector further wishes to place on record that in terms of the law she is not compelled to undertake any investigation but has discretional power to do so. She was accordingly not compelled to accept Mr Holomisa’s request to investigate but has decided so after assessing the matter. If she wished to protect anyone, she would not have decided to investigate. 

 

The delay in finalising a provisional report was due to new information that needed to be followed up through interviews and all relevant parties have been duly notified. It is not true that Adv Madonsela is friends with anyone in the IEC. Should anyone have evidence to the contrary, the Public Protector would like them to come forward with such.

 

Regarding the Deputy President’s investigation, that investigation too has been delayed. It is rather mischievous to suggest the contrary. The Public Protector regrets the delay in finalising this and other cases. Due to a high case load with limited staff, the Public Protector is struggling to balance rigor with swiftness. Each investigator assisting her with complex cases is carrying over 30 investigations instead of the industry benchmark of two cases at a time.

 

 

Kgalalelo Masibi 

Spokesperson for the Public Protector

Tel: (012) 366 7006

Cell: 079 507 0399

E-mail: kgalalelom@pprotect.org