Public Protector Advocate Thuli Madonsela dismissed allegations of fraud and corruption levelled against her as “mischievous” and “baseless” at a press briefing of the National Press Club in Pretoria on Wednesday.
“The allegations against me are baseless, without truth. I have never been accused of fraud or corruption and there is no document in the department of justice where I am accused of such,” Madonsela said.
The Star reported on Wednesday that Madonsela was on the verge of being arrested for alleged corruption and fraud committed during her tenure as a commissioner at the South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC). It is understood that Madonsela was being charged for allegedly owning a company that undertook work to the value of R1.8-million for the SALRC while she was employed by the body.
Madonsela questioned the timing of the charges as they came at the same time as the Protector’s office was probing alleged corruption in a leasing deal involving South African Police Services (SAPS) head General Bheki Cele and property vendor Roux Shabangu. The crux of the investigation surrounds allegations Cele signed off inflated leasing deals on buildings owned by Shabangu to house SAPS personnel in Pretoria and Durban.
“These reports seem to be trying to distract the work that me and my office are doing to further the Constitution, and the timing of their release is also questionable,” Madonsela said.
It is also understood the investigation into Madonsela began in February 2011, around the same time she began investigations into the leasing of buildings to the SAPS, even though she ended her service with the body in 2007.
Madonsela confirmed her ownership of a company called the Law and Policy Research Agency, which did undertake work for the SALRC. However, Madonsela told the briefing that the amount of R1.8m was complete fiction and that the sum total of all work was equal to no more than R50Â 000 and that she employed a director to run the company while she was in the process of joining the SALRC.
Madonsela said she had made submissions to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and the Treasury indicating her involvement in the business.
“It is mischievous to suggest I never made it known about my company. I even requested to be paid through my company for tax purposes,” Madonsela said.
Madonsela vowed to fight the allegations and continue with her duties as Public Protector without fear or favour.
“We will not be side-tracked from our duties in fulfilling our constitutional mandate and I myself will not stop speaking truth to power and not stop operating under the auspices of truth, power and impartiality,” Madonsela said.