Cele condemns raid on Public Protector's office

Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System
Date: 03 Mar 2011
Title: Cele condemns raid on Public Protector's office
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Pretoria - National Police Commissioner General Bheki Cele has condemned
a raid on the offices of Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, Hawks
spokesperson McIntosh Polela said on Thursday.

The Public Protector's offices were raided on Wednesday by the SAPS
Crime Intelligence Division.

Polela said the raid, which was not authorised, might have been an
attempt to find documents related to the report on an investigation into
the R500 million lease agreement for police headquarters in Pretoria,
which the National Police Commissioner was refused access to by the
Public Protector's office, after requesting them.

Colonel McIntosh Polela, speaking on behalf of the South African Police
Services (SAPS), said Cele condemned the raid and was concerned that it
would seem as an attempt to intimidate the office of the Public
Protector and Madonsela herself. He said the raid was not sanctioned by
the Hawks or the police.

"We will conduct an investigation to see who sanctioned the raid," he added.

In the report on the lease agreement, the Public Protector found that
Cele was involved in improper, unlawful conduct, which amounted to
maladministration, with regards to the procurement process of the lease
agreement.

She rendered the R500 million lease invalid, saying the process that led
to the conclusion by the Department of Public Works of the lease
agreement with Roux Property Fund was flawed in various respects.

These flaws include non-compliance with prescribed procurement
procedures, such as ensuring a competitive bidding process. - BuaNews