Civil rights group Afriforum has asked the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights Defenders to request the South African government to safeguard Public Protector Thuli Madonsela from police intimidation.
"In terms of her mandate, the UN Special Rapporteur is able to send an urgent letter of appeal to the South African government to request that steps be taken to ensure the safeguarding of the public protector," Afriforum executive Kallie Kriel said on Friday.
He said Afriforum decided to approach Special Rapporteur Margaret Sekaggya after Independent Newspapers published documents they said were proof that the Hawks are investigating Madonsela.
Kriel accused the police of "denying the intimidation campaign and the police investigation, rather than to take action to ensure that the public protector is protected against those targeting her and her office".
In its letter to Sekaggya, Afriforum also referred to the raid by police on the public protector's office in March and allegations that the police hacked into the computer of an investigator at her office.
Reports that police were investigating Madonsela for allegedly failing to declare that a company she owned did work for the justice department emerged as she was about to release a damning report on the police's lease contracts with businessman Roux Shabangu.
Justice Minister Jeff Radebe on Thursday said he did not request any police investigation into Madonsela and he was satisfied that she had not acted unlawfully.
