Crime intelligence officials raided the office of the Public Protector in Pretoria on Wednesday evening in an operation that was not sanctioned by the Hawks, its spokesperson Mcintosh Polela said on Thursday.
“What happened is that there was a raid at the office of the Public Protector last night by the crime intelligence,” Polela said.
“We condemn the raid and we didn’t sanction it and we area launching an investigation to deal with the people that are responsible.”
Polela said there was a “belief” that officials were looking for documents related to the Public Protector’s investigation into police National Commissioner General Bheki Cele.
“The belief is they were looking for documents that Cele was refused access to during the investigation by the Public Protector.”
He said the Hawks were concerned about the incident.
‘Intimidation’
“We need to emphasise that we are concerned that it is going to be seen as an intimidation of the office of the Public Protector and we need to put it on record that we respect and support the office of the Public Protector.”
Public Protector Thuli Madonsela last month issued a damning report against Cele that he allegedly unlawfully authorised a lease agreement for South African Police Service offices in Pretoria.
Last month Madonsela said she found that “the accounting officer” of the South African Police Service (SAPS) was guilty of improper conduct when police authorised an alleged R500-million lease for the Sanlam Middestad Building in Pretoria.
She later said this was Cele.
She found that the accounting officer of the public works department was also guilty of improper conduct and maladministration.
Madonsela found invalid the lease between the Department of Public Works and property tycoon Roux Shabangu’s Roux Property Fund.
She said that although Cele did not sign the lease, he did sign a memorandum dated May 10 2010, which authorised funding for the lease.
Cele has denied any wrongdoing.
The Protector’s spokesperson declined to comment immediately, saying he was drafting a statement.
“Right now, we are still working on the official comment,” said Oupa Segalwe.
“I can’t just say things without agreeing on an approach.” – Sapa