Cronin: Madonsela should let parly do its job

Johannesburg - Public Protector Thuli Madonsela should let parliamentary processes on Nkandla take place, the SACP said on Sunday.

"As all democratic institutions need to respect each other, we need to urge the public protector to respect her own report," SA Communist Party deputy general secretary Jeremy Cronin said.

The party was briefing reporters in Johannesburg following its three-day central committee meeting.

Cronin was reacting to a letter Madonsela wrote to Zuma in which she expressed concern that Zuma was second-guessing the recommendations she made in her report, titled "Secure in Comfort".

In his reply to Madonsela's report, President Jacob Zuma indicated Police Minister Nathi Nhleko needed to determine if he should pay back any of the R246m spent on security upgrades at his Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, homestead.

Madonsela had recommended he repay those expenses that were not security related, such as the swimming pool, cattle kraal, and amphitheatre.

In her letter Madonsela expressed concern that Zuma was second-guessing her recommendations and giving Nhleko powers he did not have.

Cronin said Madonsela's letter to Zuma contradicted her previous statements that the matter was currently in the hands of Parliament.

SACP secretary general Blade Nzimande said processes should be respected.

"It is very important to respect processes. The public protector clearly contradicts her own report. Whether there should be payment or not, that should be determined by the processes in place," Nzimande said.

The party did not have issues with Madonsela, but was concerned about her conduct.

"She has crossed boundaries she's not supposed to cross. She must protect the integrity of her office," he said.

Party chairperson Thulas Nxesi said Madonsela wrote to Zuma despite previously indicating she was not interested in talking to him about the report, and that it would be submitted to Parliament.

"There are processes in Parliament. All of us have made submissions on the report in Parliament... processes must be followed," he said.