3 March 2011
Johannesburg — The Hawks believe that an unauthorised raid on the public protector’s office in Pretoria on Wednesday night was an attempt to get hold of documents in a damning report against police chief General Bheki Cele.
“The belief is they were looking for documents that Cele was refused access to during the investigation by the Public Protector,” Hawks spokesman Macintosh Polela told Sapa on Thursday.
“We need to emphasise that we are concerned that it is going to be seen as an intimidation of the office of the Public Protector and we need to put it on record that we respect and support the office of the Public Protector.”
Public Protector Thuli Madonsela last month issued a report which concluded that the national police commissioner allegedly unlawfully authorised a lease agreement for SA Police Service offices.
Cele has denied any wrongdoing.
Polela said the raid would be investigated.
“We condemn the raid and we didn’t sanction it and we are launching an investigation to deal with the people that are responsible.”
The Public Protector’s spokesman declined to comment immediately, saying he was drafting a statement.
“Right now, we are still working on the official comment,” said Oupa Segalwe.
“I can’t just say things without agreeing on an approach.”
AllAfrica – All the Time
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South Africa: Govt Ombudsman Raided After Finding Against Police Chief