Public Protector vindicates Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu on Paul Ngobeni’s appointment

25 April 2012

Following a complaint to the Public Protector by the Democratic Alliance's (DA) MP, David Maynier in which he alleged that Paul Ngobeni’s appointment as Special Advisor was irregular and that he was not vetted, the Public Protector released her report on her investigation yesterday.

The final report of the Public Protector finds as follows:

• That Mr Ngobeni was vetted in accordance with the applicable provisions of the law.
• That the complainant’s allegations that Mr Ngobeni’s appointment as the Special Advisor to the Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu was irregular and that he was not vetted are unsubstantiated.
• The Minister complied with the relevant legislation, regulations and procedures for processing the Special Advisor’s appointment.
• The Protector added that the Minister did not contravene any legislative prescripts in Mr Ngobeni’s appointment and she is accordingly not responsible for any maladministration.

The Minister welcomes the findings of the Public Protector and calls on Mr David Maynier to apologise to Mr Ngobeni, the Minister and the Ministry for his defamation remarks and all the allegations he made in the media about the appointment and process of appointment.

The Minister notes all other comments in the Public Protector’s report and that Mr Ngobeni is not prohibited from practising law in South Africa.

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Ndivhuwo Mabaya
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