Public Protector Adv. Thuli Madonsela would like to assure the people of South Africa of her office’s continued independence and impartiality.
"We conduct all of our investigations and, where appropriate, prepare reports without fear, favour or prejudice,” she said. The Public Protector invited all persons interested in the Nkandla investigation to await the final report and read it carefully to determine whether her office keeps its commitment.
Meanwhile, organs of state within the Security Cluster, who were last Friday favoured with the Nkandla provisional report, have been granted an extension to submit their comments by Friday, November 8, 2013. This followed their request for more time, to go through the report.
The said organs of state earlier made a special request to have access to the report before it is shared with the rest of the parties, with a view to commenting on whether or not it compromises the security of the President.The rest of the parties, including respondents and complainants, will get the report as soon as possible thereafter.
However, complainants and some of the respondents will only be invited view the report at the Public Protector’s offices, in the presence of members of the investigation team due to security reasons. This will either take place in Pretoria or Cape Town.
The Public Protector would like to reiterate the point that, like all other provisional reports issued by her office, the report is confidential. She will only be in a position to release the report to the public after having received comments from all parties, considered them and, to an extent possible, integrated them into the report.
