DA concerned by decision taken by the Public Protector on Nkandlagate report

The DA is concerned by the decision taken by the Public Protector, Adv. Thuli Madonsela, to send the provisional report only to the organs of state within the Security Cluster to give them an opportunity to comment on whether or not the report "compromises" the President's security.

This is worrying given that the very same Ministers ‘classified' the Public Works Task Team Report into the same matter because of their 'concerns' that this will impact on the President's security. They did so without any regard for sections which do not impact on the security of the President, nor did they make any effort to make these sections public. This matter is now before the Western Cape High Court, following the DA's application to access the report through the Promotion of Access to Information Act.

I will urgently write to the Public Protector to request further clarification from her as to what she intends to do if the Ministers 'classify' the report, as they did with the previous report or request that the entire report not be made public on the basis of so-called security concerns. 

The DA would like to send a clear message to the Ministers in the Security Cluster today: if you classify this report, we will fight you until it becomes public. South Africa, once and for all, deserves to know the truth behind this R200 million scandal.

Statement issued by Lindiwe Mazibuko MP, DA Parliamentary Leader, November 1 2013

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