ANC WELCOMES FINDINGS BY PUBLIC PROTECTOR ON LEASE AGREEMENT

The African National Congress (ANC) respects the findings of the Public Protector into the R500 million lease agreement of the Sanlam Middestad Building in Pretoria. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the independent organs like the Public Protector, created to strengthen our constitutional democracy.

We call on all parties cited in the Public Protector's findings to take the necessary corrective action in a manner that restores public confidence in our administration.

We note that the violation of public administration laws - in terms of the Public Protector's conclusion on the matter - does not necessarily amount to a criminal finding. It is, therefore, very opportunistic in the extreme for the Democratic Alliance (DA) and other opposition parties to call for the firing of national police commissioner Bheki Cele and Public Works Minister Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde who should now be taking corrective measures to rectify any flaws in the lease agreement.

Statement issued by Jackson Mthembu, African National Congress National Spokesperson, February 23 2011

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