Just a day before her final few hours as public protector, Advocate Thuli Madonsela has been served by President Jacob Zuma with an urgent court interdict application over her draft report on the state capture investigation.
The presidency confirmed to News24 that it had made the application. This will in all likelihood delay the release of Madonsela's long-awaited report.
On Monday, Madonsela called Zuma to heel after the presidency released a statement saying it wanted to see the evidence she had gathered.
“Public Protector Madonsela has noted the statement from the Presidency, issued on Monday, October 10, 2016.
“The Public Protector would like to report that President Jacob Zuma was afforded a proper opportunity to tender his evidence since 22/03/2016.
“President Zuma was on Saturday, October 01, 2016, given all copies of evidence implicating him.
“His lawyer raised a request to question witnesses for the first time on Thursday, October 06, 2016 when he was asking for a deferment of the investigation to the next Public Protector.
“It's of concern to the Public Protector that President has on two occasions undertaken to answer questions and when the time arose, he changed his mind.”
