PUBLIC PROTECTOR SAYS THERE WERE NO ERRORS ON THE MIDVAAL INVESTIGATION
Public Protector Adv Thuli Madonsela has clarified that no errors were committed in her investigation of irregularities at Midvaal Local Municipality in Gauteng. This follows a news article in one Sunday newspaper, alleging that she "admitted to errors" in her investigation of irregularities at the municipality.
The Public Protector would like to put it on record that she only admitted to the fact that she had made undertakings on the release of the report, which were not met because the report didn't come through as agreed from the investigation team.
With regard to a letter that was not sent to the Law Society of Northern Provinces, the Public Protector would like to state that, as a matter of principle, letters and copies of reports are sent to individuals and institutions that need to execute the remedial action stemming from the findings. Such letters are sent on the same day investigation reports are released to the public.
These letters are dispatched by the investigation team that would have assisted the Public Protector with a particular investigation. In the case of Midvaal, it appears as though the letters and the report were not sent the Law Society. All other individuals and institutions, who had to get the documents, received them.
The Public Protector has been looking at this issue internally to establish what might have gone wrong. It has since been established that an oversight led to the documents not being forwarded to the Law Society. The Law Society will be favoured with all the documents expeditiously.