/ 13 October 2016

Zuma applies for interdict against Madonsela’s #StateCapture report

The Constitutional Court will decide early this year whether to hear and rule on the bid by the EFF to force Zuma to pay back the money spent on nonsecurity upgrades at Nkandla.
The Constitutional Court will decide early this year whether to hear and rule on the bid by the EFF to force Zuma to pay back the money spent on nonsecurity upgrades at Nkandla.

The presidency has served public protector Thuli Madonsela with a notice stating that they are applying for an interdict against her draft report on her investigation into state capture.

Madonsela’s report was due to be released on Friday. Her investigation was based on the Gupta family’s involvement in the state capture of South Africa and alleges that the family is using their ties to President Jacob Zuma to benefit from tenders and appoint ministers in Cabinet.

The presidency has confirmed to various news sources that the application for an interdict has been filed. The public protector’s office, meanwhile, has said that they cannot release the report until the decision on whether the interdict will be granted or the application dismissed is made.

According to public protector spokesperson Oupa Segwale, the application will be heard on Tuesday at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.

“We have not yet decided how he are going to deal with it,” Segwale said. “We are still consulting our legal team.”  

Earlier this week, it was revealed that Zuma asked Madonsela for the witnesses she had interviewed as part of her investigation and their testimonies. Madonsela’s office instead suggested that the president send his questions to them and they would pass it on to the witnesses. 

On Thursday Julius Malema revealed that he had been on the people to submit evidence to the public protector against Zuma. The EFF leader refused, however, to be interviewed by the Zuma. Vytjie Mentor, the former ANC caucus leader who said she had been offered a ministerial job by the Gupta family in their home as Zuma sat in the next room, also said that she would not be intimidated by Zuma. In an open letter to Zuma she said: “Dear Zuma. I spoke to the PP. I revealed things about you and about your folly relationship with the Guptas through your son”.

Zuma had asked Madonsela to delay the conclusion of her investigation so that he may have time to speak with the witnesses. The Gupta family lawyers, meanwhile, have spoken out in defence of the president’s request, while the public protector’s office has said the presidency has had enough time to formulate a response. 

Friday will be Madonsela’s last day in the public protector chair.