Public Protector: DA appalled by Deputy Defence Minister's comments

09 September 2014

Note to Editors: This member statement was made by DA Parliamentary Leader Mmusi Maimane MP, in the National Assembly, today.

Speaker, the Democratic Alliance is appalled by the comments made yesterday by the Deputy Minister of Defence, Honourable Kebby Maphatsoe, in respect of Public Protector, Adv Thuli Madonsela.

The Deputy Minister's accusation of Adv Madonsela being a plant of the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) whose only motivation is to undermine the ANC, to undermine Parliament and the Constitution, is baseless and unconstitutional itself.

This is the latest attempt by the ANC to belittle and undermine the Public Protector. But in this utterance, the Deputy Minister accuses a foreign nation, and critical trade-partner of malice.

These claims are without any foundation.

It is, in fact, the ANC who are attempting to undermine Parliament and the Constitution by interfering in the work of the Public Protector and not giving any meaning to the remedial actions taken by Adv. Madonsela in many of her reports.

The DA demands that the Deputy Minister immediately withdraw these comments and apologize for his irresponsible remarks against the Public Protector.

Should he fail to do so, the DA will launch a motion of censure against the Deputy Minister.

Issued by the DA September 9 2014

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