LHR calls on the President to protect the Public Protector
LAWYERS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS PRESS RELEASE
3 MARCH 2011
Lawyers for Human Rights (“LHR”) wishes to express its shock at media reports that members of SAPS’ Crime Intelligence Unit have raided the Office of the Public Protector in Pretoria. This raid appears to have been an attempt by police officers to gain access to documents related to the recent report condemning the irregular lease agreement of the Middestad Building by SAPS.
Although it is early and details are still forthcoming, LHR is deeply concerned that such actions are a direct attack on the institutions protecting democracy in South Africa. State Institutions Supporting Democracy are special institutions which are protected by Chapter 9 of the Constitution. These institutions are there to ensure that the abuse of power, mainly by state actors, no longer perils our democracy. Intimidation of such constitutional institutions is just as damaging and risks causing a chilling effect on other public institutions who publicly criticise state action and high-ranking government officials.
The President of the Republic is mandated by the Constitution to ‘uphold, respect and defend the Constitution’. We call on the President to immediately condemn such actions and to ensure a high level investigation into this raid to establish who is responsible for it and ensure that the Public Protector’s Office, and all Chapter 9 institutions, are protected against such abuses of state power.
CONTACT LAWYERS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS:
Adv. Jacob van Garderen
National Director: Lawyers for Human Right
(t) 012 320 2943 / 0828203960