Nkandla: ANC's attack on Public Protector must be condemned 

25 August 2014

The DA notes with grave concern the malicious public attack of ANC Chief Whip, Honourable Stone Sizani, against Public Protector, Adv. Thuli Madonsela, in a statement yesterday.

Mr Sizani fails to abide by the constitutional imperative that the work of the Public Protector be completed without fear, favour or prejudice, as per Section 181(2) of the Constitution.

It is an alarming trend that members and leadership of the ANC have taken to attacking and undermining constitutional bodies and processes when their findings go against the ANC, in any of its forms or iterations.

Chapter 9 institutions, like the Public Protector, are independent. A review by a court of law is the only constitutional means for disagreeing with the work of such institutions. 

In the matter of the Public Protector's Secure in Comfort report and her letter to the President, dated 21 August 2014, it is factually correct that the President has not to-date responded to the remedial action steps of the Public Protector.

For this reason the letter of the Public Protector to the President cannot be said to interfere with the processes of Parliament, but has in fact aided and assisted the work of Parliament and its Nkandla Ad Hoc Committee to hold the President to account.

Any contrary assertion by Mr Sizani must simply be seen as an attempt to discredit the Public Protector because he and the ANC do not like the content of her letter.

It is clear that the ANC is currently drowning in a sea of accusations and findings against President Zuma, and it is clear that the ANC has now taken to preventing him from being held accountable, at all costs.

The DA will not allow this to go unchecked.

Statement issued by Mmusi Maimane MP, DA Parliamentary Leader, August 25 2014

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