Johannesburg – President Jacob Zuma’s safety will be compromised if Public Protector Thuli Madonsela releases a report on his Nkandla homestead without state comment, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said in court papers.

“If the report is released in its current form as intended by the respondent [Madonsela] on [Saturday]… the applicants [the state’s security cluster] will suffer irreparable harm and the security of the state and the safety of the president will be severely compromised,” he said in a founding affidavit.

The urgent application by the security cluster to prevent Madonsela from releasing her provisional report was postponed in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Friday. It would be heard next Friday.

Mthethwa said in the affidavit that Madonsela initially released the report to the security cluster because she was aware it contained “classified, top secret and confidential matters which may impact on the security of the state and president”.

Mthethwa said releasing the report to other affected, implicated and interested parties before the cluster commented was therefore unlawful.

Advocate William Mokhari, for the security cluster, told the court Madonsela was served an application for the interdict on Friday morning.

“We understand that the respondent [Madonsela] needs some time to file opposing papers and we have no objection to that.”

He said the parties came to an agreement.

“The first item [of the agreement] is that the matter be postponed to 15 November 2013,” he said.

“The respondent is to file the answering affidavit by Tuesday… and the applicants shall deliver replying affidavits by 17:00 on Wednesday.”

The parties would file heads of argument by noon on Thursday.

“[There is also]… an undertaking by the respondent [Madonsela] not to release the provisional report pending the finalisation of the application.”

– SAPA