Archbishop criticises attack on Madonsela

Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba on Tuesday criticised a group of religious leaders who attacked Public Protector Thuli Madonsela.

"We in the churches deeply regret that certain clergy have ganged up against the public protector in the name of the church," he said in a statement.

"They have done so without adequate knowledge of her reports and their intervention only serves to undermine the fight against corruption."

Last week, a group of religious leaders attacked Madonsela for her probes into SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng and Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) chairwoman Pansy Tlakula.

They said at the time they came together to address media out of concern for "demonic forces which planned to derail the revolution and the freedom of our people".

When asked which churches the group represented, bishop Pule Makgethi declined to be specific.

He said they were leaders of various African Christian churches spread across the country, but would not name the churches.

Makgoba on Tuesday called on civil society to join the churches in defending the office of the public protector.

"It is shameful to see the dirty tactics being employed by politicians against the public protector.

"There is clearly a co-ordinated campaign by those implicated in her reports to denigrate her office and its work," he said.

Madonsela will on Wednesday release her final report on the over R206 million upgrades to President Jacob Zuma's private homestead at Nkandla, in KwaZulu-Natal. - Sapa