You're wasting taxpayers' money, Madonsela tells Mpofu
Former public protector Thuli Madonsela on Monday began her testimony at the parliamentary inquiry into the fitness to hold office of her successor Busisiwe Mkhwebane.
Advocate Dali Mpofu, who is representing Mkhwebane at the inquiry, grilled Madonsela on the hand-written changes made on her statement.
He told Madonsela the changes she made were illegal.
Madonsela disagreed, saying the changes did not replacing the affidavit she submitted on 25 February.
“I didn’t change the original affidavit by hand,” she said.
“I took a copy of it and I made the changes, you must look at the email that was sent on the first of March, the email explained properly that what we are doing is we not replacing the affidavit of the 25th with the handwritten.
“We replaced it with the electronic version and that electronic version was signed by the commissioner of oaths. I wanted to make it easier for the committee because it was now short notice to see what’s the difference between the affidavit signed by the commissioner of oath on the 28th, and the affidavit signed by the commissioner of oath on the 25th. The hand-written version was just ease of reference and the email says so.”
Madonsela told Mpofu he was well aware that the corrections were written on the side of a page to indicate corrections.
“Advocate Mpofu, there is an affidavit that was sent on the 25 February 2023 and you know yourself that things can be corrected and are noted on the side where they are corrections. That affidavit was not replaced by one that was sent on the 28th. You didn't object to that affidavit you had a whole week to say that is not an affidavit and to come now and decide that you are going to spend taxpayers’ money arguing about whether the documents of the 28th are an affidavit or not is shocking to say the least.”
A visibly upset Madonsela questioned Mpofu on his line of questioning, accusing him of harbouring an ulterior motive.
“Precisely because of the kind of questions I have been asked, it didn't seem to me that I am a witness to assist with providing evidence that could assist your client to explain herself to Parliament. The questions that I was sent in the very first letter were accusing me of certain things. How are you going to have your statement prepared by somebody who already appears like they want to throw you under the bus?
“There is only one statement, Advocate Mpofu, are we trying to play with words here sir? Again every minute is wasting taxpayers’ money,” said Madonsela.
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