Public Protector Thuli Madonsela fears for her life but will not shy away from “clawing back” public funds spent irregularly, the Sunday Times reported.
“I believe I can make a difference in clawing back some of the resources that are being lost at the moment in the way that tenders are managed,” she told the publication.
“What people don’t understand is that complaints against the government will always be primarily against those that are governing. At national level, the key players would be from the ruling party, so it’s not that I’m targetting them.”
Madonsela said she had written to Speaker of Parliament Max Sisulu to follow up on her request for bodyguards.
“I have asked that he follow up on that request. There are concerns now about my security.”
She said her predecessors, Selby Baqwa and Lawrence Mushwana, were given protection.
Madonsela was due to address a media conference on July 6 to deliver an update on several investigations, including the key probe into the police headquarters leasing scandal.
Her report on the Pretoria lease and her leaked draft report on the Durban lease — both involving property mogul Roux Shabangu and inflated rates — came down hard on police National Commissioner Bheki Cele.
Madonsela swept aside the police boss’s protestations that he was not in direct control of the procurement process and laid ultimate responsibility at his door.
But on Wednesday, the script changed when Independent Newspapers published a dramatic claim that the police were poised to arrest Madonsela on fraud and corruption charges.
The story was written by senior editor Jovial Rantao, who has previously reported on leaks from crime intelligence, notably concerning the Selebi investigation.
Citing unnamed sources and undisclosed documentation, Rantao claimed that, although Madonsela was a commissioner of the South African Legal Reform Commission, a company that she owned did work worth R1.8-million for the commission.
Later it published a document, with the names of the investigating officers and the case number blanked out, saying it was proof of an official police investigation against Madonsela.
Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa denied any knowledge of a pending investigation or plans to arrest her.
Speaker to meet Madonsela, Mthethwa
Sisulu will meet Mthethwa and Madonsela next week, Parliament said in a statement on Saturday.
“Mr Max Sisulu, has noted, with grave concern, recent reports in the media concerning the Public Protector Ms Thuli Madonsela,” the statement read.
“The Office of the Public Protector, like all other Chapter Nine organisations, is accountable to Parliament for its activities, as the Constitution prescribes.”
Sisulu, on behalf of the National Assembly, said the Office of the Public Protector enjoyed “the full confidence of Parliament”.
“The Public Protector must be able to perform her functions without fear, favour or any hindrance.” – Sapa