_: On the 29th July 2013, the President of the Republic, Mr JG Zuma, received a request from the Office of the Public Protector to visit the President’s residence in Nkandla.

The visit is an “inspection in loco”, as part of the investigation by the OPP into the work done by government departments on the security upgrade of the residence. The President has since acceded to the request for the Public Protector’s visit to go ahead today the 12th August, as per her request.

At a meeting held with the public Protector, Adv. Madonsela, the Ministers of the Security Cluster informed her of the President’s decision to grant such approval.

The Ministers and the Public Protector also discussed the security protocols related to the nature of the visit and the support that the Public Protector requires in this regard.

The meeting agreed that Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Hon. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, will today, the 12th of August 2013, accompany the Public Protector to Nkandla.

This was as per the request of the Public protector herself. The Minister, a team of senior officials, the Public Protector and her team proceeded to Nkandla this morning and will remain there until she is done with her work later this afternoon.

The visit is essentially that of the Public Protector and except for the support that the Minister and the officials will give to her, they will allow her to proceed with her inspection.

Government wants to re-iterate its commitment to cooperate with the investigation of the Public Protector. We also appreciate that the OPP recognises the sensitive nature of the security matters related to the residences of Heads of State.

The Public Protector and the government have agreed that the necessary care needs to be taken to ensure that security is not compromised while this inspection takes place.”