Court action may follow ANC's Madonsela rejection

The DA hinted that it would challenge Police Minister Nathi Nhleko’s report in court after the ANC majority on the ad hoc parliamentary committee considering it, rejected calls by the opposition to call witnesses, including Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, says a report on the IoL site. The ANC used its majority muscle to vote down a proposal by Steve Swart, of the ACDP, that Madonsela be called to discuss her report on the R246m upgrade of President Jacob Zuma’s rural home, in the same manner that Police Minister Nathi Nhleko was given another chance to walk the committee through his conflicting report. Swart argued the ruling party had the right to differ with Madonsela’s directives, but only after engaging her on the matter. ANC Deputy Chief Whip Doris Dlakude summed up the ANC’s disagreement, saying: ‘We all know what we saw at Nkandla and we all agree that money was stolen at Nkandla, so we don’t need to call witnesses.’ DA Chief Whip John Steenhuisen described what had transpired as a ‘tale of two reports’: that of Madonsela who found Zuma had benefited unduly from the work on his property and should refund the state for luxuries, and that of Nhleko who found that all features in fact served a security purpose and therefore Zuma did not have to pay back a cent. The ANC resolved that the committee would begin drafting its final report to hand to the National Assembly, where Nhleko’s findings are likely to be endorsed.