At the weekend Maphatsoe, who is also chairperson of the Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association, reportedly accused Madonsela of being deployed as a CIA spy, to destabilise the African National Congress (ANC) and ultimately the country.

Maphatsoe says the comments were misunderstood.

“Madonsela is claiming that she was a former member of Umkhonto we Sizwe and everybody is distancing themselves to say no, no one trained her. Then, as I was saying, if she claims to be a member of Umkhonto we Sizwe, she was handled somewhere.”

Last month, the Public Protector wrote to President Jacob Zuma, asking him to indicate to her when he would respond to her Nkandla findings, which stated that he had unduly benefitted from upgrades to his homestead.

Madonsela’s spokesperson Oupa Segalwe has called for the deputy defence minister to retract his statement.

“The Public Protector has written to Mr Maphatsoe, requesting that he confirm if he indeed made those comments and if he would provide her with irrefutable evidence within 72 hours of receipt of the letter concerned.”

Segalwe says, “Failing which, he will be left with no option but to invoke the contempt of the Public Protector powers, as envisaged in sections 9 and 11 of the Public Protector Act, which is a prison sentence or a fine.”

The ANC has since distanced itself from the comments and called on people to respect Madonsela’s office.

 

EWN