South African Presidency lodges complaint over leaked audio recordings

The South African Presidency said Monday that it has lodged a complaint with the Office of the Public Protector regarding leaked audio recordings of an interview with President Jacob Zuma by former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela.

The Presidency has sought clarity from the Office of the Public Protector on the policy of the institution regarding the release of audio recordings of an interview conducted during the course of investigations into allegations of "state capture" by the Indian Gupta family, presidential spokesperson Bongani Ngqulunga said.

Madonsela leaked to television channel ENCA audio recordings of the discussions that took place at her meeting with Zuma during the investigation, the Presidency said.

Under an order from the High Court in Pretoria, Madonsela released the "state capture" report on November 2. The report sheds light on how the wealthy Gupta family used their close ties with Zuma to influence the appointment of cabinet ministers and CEOs of state-owned enterprises.

The report prompted growing calls for Zuma to resign.

A transcript of Madonsela's four-hour-long interview with Zuma on October 6 was made public by the Public Protector's Office, along with the release of the "state capture" report.

The transcript details Madonsela's discussions with the president's lawyer Michael Hulley over process and the president's explanations of why he couldn't answer questions about his relationship with the influential Gupta family.

Madonsela has made no comment about the presidential complaint. Endit