The investigation into the multi-million rand upgrade of President Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla homestead is almost complete, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
“We are 90 percent done,” she told reporters in Pretoria.<\/p>\n
“The field work is virtually concluded and the written report is 90 percent done.”<\/p>\n
Madonsela was waiting for information from outstanding sources.<\/p>\n
“The report should be complete in the next couple of weeks,” she said.<\/p>\n
“We shouldn’t go beyond May 24… if we get information expeditiously.”<\/p>\n
Madonsela said the Nkandla case involved more parties and was more complicated than the case involving Communications Minister Dina Pule.<\/p>\n
“This case [involving Pule] was slightly simpler and less complex… and may be finalised faster than the Nkandla one,” she said.<\/p>\n
The Protector is investigating Pule’s role in the ICT Indaba scandal, following reports that R25 million raised by sponsors for the event could not be accounted for.<\/p>\n
Madonsela said Pule’s claim that the Sunday Times was involved in a smear and blackmail campaign against her would have no bearing on the investigation.<\/p>\n
“The minister’s comment is not going impact on the investigation…. We have a framework to follow,” she said.<\/p>\n
“What she has said has no implications…, because we interview people who were involved in the matter at ICT and not journalists.”<\/p>\n
On Monday, Pule called a press briefing and announced she would be approaching the Press Ombudsman to complain about a series of articles written about her by the newspaper.<\/p>\n
She alleged that business people linked to the newspaper had a vested interest in trying to secure a multi-billion rand set-top-box tender and were willing to do anything to get it.<\/p>\n
Set-top-boxes are required for the move from analogue to digital television broadcasting.<\/p>\n
Pule said high-profile business people and politicians had tried to force her to make decisions in their favour.<\/p>\n
She detailed several stories written about her which, she claimed, sought to project her as a corrupt minister who was easily bribed with a pair of shoes, and who gave tenders to a boyfriend, meddled in tender processes, and interfered in the appointment of officials.<\/p>\n
She also accused journalists of having links to business interests.<\/p>\n
Dina Pule: I\u2019m being blackmailed<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Dina Pule to be hit with criminal charges<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n