Minister takes action on report

MINISTER of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Tina Joemat-Pettersson has taken the public protector to court on findings that awarding an R800-million contract to patrol South Africa's seas constituted maladministration.

Joemat-Pettersson has disputed any wrongdoing in the allegations against her. "I will be asking the North Gauteng High Court to declare that the report, including the findings and recommendations, are reviewed, corrected, and-or set aside."

The papers were filed on Friday. She said the decision to take Thuli Madonsela on legal review was not made overnight, but she was convinced about the "veracity of the problem".

Madonsela's "docked vessels" report released in December found President Jacob Zuma should consider disciplinary action against Joemat-Pettersson due to "reckless dealing with state money and services, resulting in fruitless and wasteful expenditure, loss of confidence in the fisheries industry and the alleged decimation of fisheries resources".

Madonsela said yesterday that she stood by her findings. - Denise Williams