Public Protector concerned over reports on Ramaphosa investigation
The DA and EFF lodged complaints with Mkhwebane with regards to a payment that had been made by Bosasa towards Ramaphosa's ANC presidential campaign.
The Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, has noted "with concern" an article in one of the Sunday newspapers in which it is reported that a document purported to be originating from her office and apparently linked to an investigation she is carrying out following Democratic Alliance (DA) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) complaints against President Cyril Ramaphosa was allegedly leaked to the paper.
According to the article, the document in question was accessed “courtesy of one of the President’s confidants”.
The DA and EFF lodged complaints with Mkhwebane with regards to a payment that had been made by Bosasa towards Ramaphosa's ANC presidential campaign.
This after Ramaphosa admitted to making an error in Parliament last year while answering a question about R500 000 donated by Bosasa into his campaign account.
ALSO READ: Mkhwebane tight-lipped on Ramaphosa meeting
Mkhwebane's office released a statement on Sunday saying her office will not comment on the contents of any news report or leaked document that purports to be hers as that could potentially jeopardise her investigations and prejudice the subjects of the probes.
"Reports of the Public Protector are released officially by Adv. Mkhwebane to complainants, respondents and the public in terms of section 182(5) of the Constitution, read with Section 8(1) and (3) of the Public Protector Act 23, 1994 (PPA). Contents of notices issued by the Public Protector in terms of 7(9) of the PPA or any document before the Public Protector as part of an ongoing investigation are strictly confidential," said her spokesperson, Oupa Segalwe.
the statement drew the public's attention to Section 7(2) of the PPA, which provides that: “No person shall disclose to any other person the contents of any document in the possession of a member of the office of the Public Protector or the record of any evidence given before the Public Protector, Deputy Public Protector or a person … during an investigation, unless the Public Protector determines otherwise.”