PUBLIC Protector Thuli Madonsela says she has been told there is a move by senior African National Congress (ANC) members to drive her out of office, with the person orchestrating the campaign having been promised a job within the ruling party.
Ms Madonsela said: "The whistle-blower told me in July (that a person), whose name was given to me, is asking members of the public to come up with a petition to have me impeached, as key members of the ANC had promised her a job.
"Unfortunately, I asked the whistle-blower to give me documentation, but he never did. I have also been told the investigation into On-Point Engineering would cost me."
The probe of On-Point — in which former ANC Youth League president Julius Malema’s family trust has shares — has unveiled a raft of dodgy tenders and recommended legal action against the owners.
ANC spokesman Keith Khoza said yesterday the party would not be part of any attack against the public protector. "As far as we are concerned, the public protector has never deviated from the legal mandate of her office and our view is that she be allowed to continue."
Ms Madonsela was responding to reports in the Sunday Times that MPs were questioning her partiality. She said that she had first informed Parliament about the allegations against her and requested an investigation. "Parliament will do its own investigation, which I expect, will include hearing from others.
"But the truth is in the documentation that I supplied."
Deputy public protector Mamiki Shai has presented a dossier to Parliament which contains allegations that Ms Madonsela interfered with and soft-peddled in investigations into Democratic Alliance -run areas, including Midvaal municipality.
Ms Madonsela said she had set up a task team to investigate the allegations with the aim of preparing a report for Parliament.
"I asked the deputy public protector (Ms Shai), who chairs the good governance and integrity committee, to convene a subcommittee (to probe the matter)."
