The DA supports the Justice Portfolio Committee in asking for the Public Protector, Adv. Thuli Madonsela, to address certain allegations against her department in Parliament.

The Portfolio Committee is dealing with this matter at the request of the Public Protector. She approached the Speaker of Parliament about this as she wanted the allegations to be dealt with and put to rest.

There have been various anonymous allegations made against Adv. Madonsela's office over recent months, as well as allegations made by the former Deputy Public Protector, Mamiki Shai. Whilst most of these allegations appear to stem from interpersonal issues and office politics, a number of serious allegations have been made which require clarity.

The Portfolio Committee has already heard the allegations by Adv. Shai. It is now only proper that the Public Protector be given an opportunity to respond in public and directly to the committee.

We require information from the police as to their progress on the case laid by the previous deputy against the CEO of the Public Protector's office for allegedly falsely obtaining her signature on a document approving his performance bonus. There has been no request for the police to investigate the Public Protector herself.

The DA believes that the allegations of non-compliance with the Public Finance Management Act should be investigated by the Auditor-General if possible. We believe that it is in the interests of the Public Protector and the South African public that these allegations are aired, responded to, and hopefully put to rest.

Debbie Schafer, Shadow Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development