Cape Town – Public Protector Thuli Madonsela should not conclude the alleged state capture investigation without allowing President Jacob Zuma to see all the evidence that implicates him, the Presidency said in a statement on Monday.
Not only that, but he or his legal representative should be allowed to question the witnesses who appeared in front of the Public Protector.
"President Jacob Zuma has written to the Public Protector, Advocate Thuli Madonsela, requesting her to allow him or his legal representative to question other witnesses, determined by the Public Protector, who have appeared before [her]."
The Presidency on Monday confirmed that when Zuma met with the Public Protector regarding the probe the president asked for the meeting to be postponed.
This was to allow him time to get the relevant documents and records and, where necessary, be allowed to question witnesses who had already testified before the Public Protector, the Presidency said.
"The Public Protector disagreed with the request and instead offered to provide the President with written questions to which the President will be required to respond with an affidavit under oath. The Public Protector has now provided the President with her written questions."
Zuma still wanted the list of witnesses who had appeared before the Public Protector, their statements, affidavits as well as transcripts of any oral testimony, according to the Presidency.
"Furthermore, the President would want to exercise his right to question some of the witnesses before responding to the written questions and adducing evidence."
Madonsela's hurry to complete the investigation was "ill-founded", the Presidency said, and it has requested an "undertaking by the Public Protector on or before close of business tomorrow, 11 October 2016, that her office will not conclude the investigation" until the request is adhered to.
On Thursday Madonsela, who leaves the office this month, said her four-hour meeting with Zuma over alleged state capture by the Gupta family was "cordial" although she didn't get many answers from him.
News24
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/zuma-asks-to-see-state-capture-probe-evidence-20161010
Not only that, but he or his legal representative should be allowed to question the witnesses who appeared in front of the Public Protector.
"President Jacob Zuma has written to the Public Protector, Advocate Thuli Madonsela, requesting her to allow him or his legal representative to question other witnesses, determined by the Public Protector, who have appeared before [her]."
The Presidency on Monday confirmed that when Zuma met with the Public Protector regarding the probe the president asked for the meeting to be postponed.
This was to allow him time to get the relevant documents and records and, where necessary, be allowed to question witnesses who had already testified before the Public Protector, the Presidency said.
"The Public Protector disagreed with the request and instead offered to provide the President with written questions to which the President will be required to respond with an affidavit under oath. The Public Protector has now provided the President with her written questions."
Zuma still wanted the list of witnesses who had appeared before the Public Protector, their statements, affidavits as well as transcripts of any oral testimony, according to the Presidency.
"Furthermore, the President would want to exercise his right to question some of the witnesses before responding to the written questions and adducing evidence."
Madonsela's hurry to complete the investigation was "ill-founded", the Presidency said, and it has requested an "undertaking by the Public Protector on or before close of business tomorrow, 11 October 2016, that her office will not conclude the investigation" until the request is adhered to.
On Thursday Madonsela, who leaves the office this month, said her four-hour meeting with Zuma over alleged state capture by the Gupta family was "cordial" although she didn't get many answers from him.
News24
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/zuma-asks-to-see-state-capture-probe-evidence-20161010
