STATEMENT ON THE SUBMITTED FINAL REPORT ON NKANDLA

After the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) announced that it had submitted its final Report on its investigation into the Nkandla upgrades to the Presidency yesterday, there have been a number of requests from the media for comments or interviews.

The SIU, and its Head, are deeply conscious of the intense public interest in its Report. We also acknowledge that we are accountable to the public for the work we do.

However, it is necessary to place on record that the SIU Act does not empower us to release the Report or make its contents public. We assume that it is the contents of the Report that are likely to be the focus of the media's queries and questions. In light of the foregoing, we are respectfully of the view that interviews with the SIU's communications office or the Head are unlikely to serve any meaningful purpose.

Insofar as the claim that it has instituted in the High Court in Pietermaritzburg is concerned, the SIU's position is as follows. The matter is now sub judice. It will accordingly be inappropriate for the SIU, or its Head, to comment on the merits of the claim.

Statement issued by Boy Ndala, SIU Spokesperson, August 22 2014

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