Public Protector Thuli Madonsela would respond to a report at noon on Wednesday that police planned to arrest her, her spokesperson said.
“We will not be commenting until the media briefing at 12,” said Kgalalelo Masibi.
“We only became aware of it after the Star media inquiry yesterday [Tuesday],” she said, when asked whether she knew of Madonsela’s supposed pending arrest.
Citing “independent sources”, the paper said that companies owned by Madonsela were allegedly paid R1.8-million three years ago by the South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC) while she was a full-time commissioner.
Madonsela had been scheduled to address the National Press Club in Pretoria on Wednesday about an investigation into the alleged improper soliciting of business for donations to the African National Congress, in addition to other issues.
Madonsela was currently finalising reports about contracts the South African Police Service entered into to lease the Sanlam-Middestad building in Pretoria and Transnet Towers in Durban for R500-million and R1.1-billion respectively.
Madonsela released her first report on the Pretoria lease in February this year. In a second report — leaked by the Sunday Times in June — she made damning findings against Cele, Public Works Minister Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde and officials in their departments.
Property vendor Roux Shabangu was the owner of both buildings.
Responding to the claims on Tuesday, Madonsela told the Star she had never concealed her company from the SALRC. She said her company was never paid more than R500 000 for the assignments it carried out for the justice department.
“I did work on the transformation of the judiciary, gender mainstreaming and the legal service charter … All of this did not reach R1.8-million,” she was quoted as saying.
According to the newspaper, “several” unnamed police sources said her arrest was imminent.
‘Faceless people’
Police would not comment on the Star‘s report on Wednesday.
“We are not going to be drawn into comments attributed to faceless people,” said Colonel Vishnu Naidoo.
The paper reported that police planned to arrest Madonsela on charges of fraud and corruption.
The newspaper reported that it had established through independent sources and documented evidence that the police planned to “pounce” in connection with the work Madonsela had undertaken while a SALRC commissioner. The alleged illegal activities took place three years ago.
Naidoo said: “We don’t confirm or deny investigations against people unless they have appeared in court.”
His colleague Brigadier Sally de Beer confirmed that this was the police’s position on the report.
Hawks spokesperson McIntosh Polela was not immediately available to comment.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson advocate Mthunzi Mhaga said early on Wednesday that he was not aware of charges pending against Madonsela.
Earlier, in an interview on SAfm, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said he was surprised at the news.
Madonsela, who was interviewed shortly after Mthethwa, denied involvement in any corrupt activities while working for the SALRC.
“We thought [the newspaper report] was a joke, but it was confirmed to be a story that has been given for real to the Independent [Newspapers, which publishes the Star].
“The allegation is that the company I own did work for the department of justice. There was a question raised about it at the time. I was told it was a query. I have since retrieved some of the paperwork. At no stage was there ever an allegation of fraud or corruption.”
She said the timing of the allegations was “questionable”, as it came before she was scheduled to brief the media on several investigations.
“I think there are people who want me to collect a cheque and go and sit at home. I’m incapable of doing that.”
“The timing [of the reported arrest] is quite questionable, but since I’m not God I can’t determine whether there’s a link or not,” she said.
Responding to questions on whether she feared for her life, Madonsela said that she was not afraid.
“We all gonna die some day. I will always do my job the best I know how. I have to do my job independently and without fear or favour.” – Sapa