Protector to look into probing Mthethwa
2013-02-25 14:44
Johannesburg - Public Protector Thuli Madonsela is
considering investigating Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa for alleged abuse of
power and coercion, the lobby group AfriForum said on Monday.
AfriForum deputy CEO Ernst Roets said this had been
confirmed in a letter.
"The letter was sent in reply to a complaint lodged
by AfriForum against Minister Mthethwa in January, regarding his handling of
the march protesting against farm murders... which took place on 1 December
2012," Roets said in a statement.
He said Mthethwa had declared the march illegal, even
though the statutory obligations had been met.
Roets said at the time that an urgent court order had
been obtained from the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria so the march could
proceed.
"The minister paid no attention to the court order
and continued to handle the march as illegal," he said on Monday.
"No police officers were dispatched to the Pretoria
central business district to ensure the safety of the protesters. The officers
who were present were there coincidentally, and had no knowledge of the
march."
He alleged that Mthethwa tried to prevent the march from
taking place, and that his spokesperson allegedly "made it very clear
during telephonic conversations that we should not expect a meeting with the
minister as long as we were planning to focus attention on this matter by means
of public protest".
Madonsela's spokesperson Kgalalelo Masibi confirmed in an
e-mail that Madonsela was looking into the matter.
No further details were given.
- SAPA
