ACDP slams SAPS raid on Public Protector's office

ACDP MP and spokesperson on Justice matters, Steve Swart, has slammed the raid by members of the police crime intelligence unit on the offices of the Public Protector.

"The raid by members of the police crime intelligence on the offices of the Public Protector is an extreme example of the abuse of state power and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. The Public Protector's job is to investigate improper conduct in state affairs and hold officials accountable where it finds impropriety. It is an independent body whose independence must be protected by other organs of state including the police.  It is very clear that this raid is directly linked to Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's damning finding against national police commissioner General Bheki Cele relating to a R500 million property transaction.

The police have already admitted that they speculate that the raid was an attempt to find certain documentation referred to in the Public Protector's report and which was not given to General Cele, but appeared in the Sunday Times.

According to police spokesmen senior police management were, however, unaware of the raid.  General Cele has himself condemned the raid. Whilst the ACDP welcomes General Cele's condemnation, clearly a number of serious questions must be answered.  Firstly, if senior police management were unaware of the raid, who in the police crime intelligence unit authorised the raid? Additionally, was a search warrant obtained and if so, on what grounds and by whom? Who was involved in the raid and what documents were seized? Lastly, was the raid an attempt to intimidate the Public Protector following her finding against General Cele?

These issues must be urgently investigated by an independent body outside of the police force.  Urgent disciplinary steps must then be instituted against those members of the crime intelligence unit that participated in this unauthorised and unlawful raid. Only such urgent and decisive action will serve to protect the independence of the Public Protector's office and the independence of other Chapter nine (of the Constitution) institutions whose task it is to protect and strengthen our constitutional democracy." 

Statement issued by Steve Swart, MP, ACDP spokesperson on police, March 3 2011

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