Update on the remedial action of the Public Protector

22 April 2016

On 31 March 2016, the Constitutional Court ordered that President Jacob Zuma must comply with the remedial action taken against him, by the Public Protector in her report of 19 March 2014.

Work is continuing to implement the remedial action.

The payment of a reasonable percentage of the cost of the measures will be done after the National Treasury has made a determination. The National Treasury is currently seized with the matter.

Letters of reprimand to the Ministers involved have been sent to the following Ministers;

Minister of Public Works, Mr Thulas Nxesi

Former Minister of Police, Mr Nathi Mthethwa

Former Minister of Public Works and High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa to Sri Lanka, Mr Geof Doidge

An Inter-departmental committee has been established by the Presidency to update the 2003 Cabinet Policy and to draft clear standards on the security measures that can be taken, the reasonable cost that can be incurred by the state and the conditions subject to which current and former Presidents and Deputy Presidents would qualify for such measures.     

The Department of Defence is drafting the Standard Operating Procedures regulating the implementation of the benefits extended to Presidents, Deputy Presidents, the Minister and Deputy Minister of Defence and foreign dignitaries (at the request of the Minister of International Relations), which is aligned with the principles of equality, proportionality, reasonableness and justifiability. 

Issued by Bongani Majola, the Presidency, 22 April 2016