Van Rooyen takes legal action over academic qualifications claim
Cooperative Governance Minister Des van Rooyen may have withdrawn his application to interdict the release of the Public Protector's state capture report, but he has now approached the court over allegations made in it.
According to reports, Van Rooyen withdrew his application because the state capture report made no adverse finding against him.
A news article reported, however, that a former Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) staffer told former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela - Van Rooyen obtained assistance from PBO staff members on his academic assignments.
According to Van Rooyen's spokesperson, Legadima Leso, the minister is now challenging the allegations.
"The minister has noted with concern an article that stated he used the staff of the parliamentary budget committee to do his academic work. The minister is very concerned with this, because of this malicious nature of this article. The minister is seeking legal advice on the matter so as to be able to take this forward," says Leso.
The Business Day reported that 'the allegation is also part of evidence at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), where the staff member has lodged a claim against his employer, alleging he was overlooked for promotion after he refused to do academic work for MPs'.