We didn't release report against Zuma because it's good practice - Madonsela

The immediate former South African Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, has explained that she decided not to release a report into allegations that President Jacob Zuma’s wealthy friends interfered in government, because its good practice.

She said Zuma’s application on Thursday to stop the release of the report as planned on Friday was just an application and she could have released it.

“Given that an application or a notice of intention to apply for an interdict is not an interdict, I decided not to release the report because it’s good practice. When people have applied for an interdict it doesn’t make sense to make it difficult to make the interdict matter,” she said in her last press conference as the Public Protector.

State Capture response: It was good practice to delay report. #PPPresser pic.twitter.com/gWEGoviDp8

— Shandukani Mulaudzi (@ShanduMul) October 14, 2016

Madonsela said the final version of the report will be with the speaker of parliament till the court orders its release.

She emphasized that the report was very important and hoped that her successor, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, deals with it as her term ends Friday midnight. The report will be examined on November 1 by a court in Pretoria.

Madonsela said in June that she would investigate whether or not Zuma unlawfully allowed the Gupta family to choose ministers and other occupants of high office.

The president and the wealthy Gupta family have denied any wrongdoing.