National Police Commissioner General Bheki Cele has condemned a raid on the offices of Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, Hawks spokesperson McIntosh Polela said on Thursday.

The Public Protector’s offices were raided on Wednesday by the South African Police Services (SAPS) Crime Intelligence Division.

Polela said the raid, which was not authorised, might have been an attempt to find documents related to the report on an investigation into the R500-million lease agreement for police headquarters in Pretoria, which the National Police Commissioner was refused access to by the Public Protector’s office, after requesting them.

Colonel McIntosh Polela, speaking on behalf of the SAPS, said Cele condemned the raid and was concerned that it would seem as an attempt to intimidate the office of the Public Protector and Madonsela herself. He said the raid was not sanctioned by the Hawks or the police.

“We will conduct an investigation to see who sanctioned the raid,” he added.

In the report on the lease agreement, the Public Protector found that Cele was involved in improper, unlawful conduct, which amounted to maladministration, with regard to the procurement process of the lease agreement.

She rendered the R500-million lease invalid, saying the process that led to the conclusion by the Department of Public Works of the lease agreement with Roux Property Fund was flawed in various respects.

These flaws include non-compliance with prescribed procurement procedures, such as ensuring a competitive bidding process.

– BuaNews