Tough year for Madonsela: report

South Africa’s Public Protector Thuli Madonsela is sad that the political skirmishes of 2013 deflected her time and attention from cases affecting ordinary people, City Press reported yesterday. This year had been the toughest of her four years as Public Protector, Madonsela reportedly told City Press’s sister newspaper, Rapport. “I hope 2014 will be better,” said was quoted as saying. Asked what she considered her biggest challenge in the new year, Madonsela reportedly said it was completing her investigation into the spending on President Jacob Zuma’s home at Nkandla, in KwaZulu-Natal. “I do hope and pray for an informed reaction to my findings on the Nkandla report,” she was quoted as saying. The newspaper reported that Madonsela had high hopes for 2014, which is the 20th anniversary of democracy in South Africa.