Protector accepts ministry's late response

2011-08-17 20:28

Johannesburg - Public Protector Thuli Madonsela on Wednesday said she accepted a response to findings made on the police headquarters lease report from the public works ministry despite it being submitted late.

The deadline was Monday but the ministry submitted its response on Wednesday, Madonsela said.

She said she had accepted the response and would examine it.

The public protector's office made its findings and now it had to make sure that the problem was resolved, Madonsela said.

"We [public protector's office] make a finding...We monitor the process of the action plan and we engage with all parties and assist them to make sure all things are remedied."

Madonsela released her first report, "Against the Rules", in February which found a multimillion-rand lease for new Pretoria SAPS headquarters to be unlawful and invalid.

A second report was released in July on the lease of Durban's Transnet Building to police, titled "Against the Rules Too".

In the report, Madonsela recommended that President Jacob Zuma take action against Public Works Minister Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde for failing to co-operate with a probe into the two controversial building leases.

She said Mahlangu-Nkabinde's failure to co-operate with the investigation amounted to improper conduct and she should explain her actions to the Cabinet within 60 days.

Mahlangu-Nkabinde had "failed to meet the requisite stewardship as was expected of her", Madonsela said.

It was also recommended that action be taken against national police commissioner General Bheki Cele for his role in renting a building from property tycoon Roux Shabangu, with a 10-year lease worth R1.16 billion.

- SAPA