Mantashe rails against leaked Thuli letter

THE ANC is not backing down in its relentless battle with Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, launching yet another offensive on her office yesterday.

Madonsela – who has remained unfazed in the face of criticism against her by the ruling party and its alliance partners – is embroiled in a bitter scuffle with the ANC over a leaked confidential letter she wrote to President Jacob Zuma.

In the letter, which surfaced last week, she lamented Zuma’s failure to respond to her report on Nkandla.

ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe stopped short of accusing Madonsela of working with the Economic Freedom Fighters against the ruling party.

Mantashe said it was coincidence that Madonsela wrote the highly disputed letter to Zuma on the same day that EFF disrupted parliament.

“There is no insinuation but we are making an analysis of what we are observing. It’s very, very interesting that you receive a letter the same day as EFF disrupt parliament and they say the same thing,” he said.

He was speaking in Johannesburg after a meeting of the party’s national working committee meeting, its management structure.

At the heart of the dispute is Zuma’s decision to ask his Minister of Police Nkosinathi Nhleko to determine whether he is liable to pay for some of the upgrades as instructed by Madonsela.

In March, Madonsela, in her damning report “Secured in Comfort”, recommended Zuma should pay for installations such as the Visitor’s Centre, cattle kraal, chicken run and the swimming pool, among others.

Madonsela has charged that the president was according Nhleko powers he doesn’t have and that this move was unconstitutional.

In terms of the Public Protector Act, although Madonsela’s accounts to parliament for how she runs her office, her reports can only be reviewed or challenged through a court.

But Mantashe took issue with how Madonsela is dealing with the matter, including her assertion that her letter to Zuma was leaked by a senior ANC leader.

“Why is it now strange when the minister is given the responsibility according to what the Public Protector report (which says) that the Police Minister and Treasury, working with the Department of Public Works make a determination of how much must be paid.

“How can Madonsela ask ‘when are you paying’ when the amount has not yet been determined? Payment of what, what amount and determined by who?” he asked. “She must finish (seven years) her term. But she must not abuse it. We will raise our voice all the time.”