Mbeki's letter to Mabandla made public

The controversial letter written by President Thabo Mbeki to Justice Minister Bridgette Mabandla has been officially released to the public.

In the letter, Mbeki asks Mabandla to pursue the then national director of public prosecutions, Vusi Pikoli, to provide more information on why he wanted to arrest and prosecute suspended national police commissioner Jackie Selebi.

The letter, which was written in September last year, was this week leaked to the media. Earlier this week the president's legal advisers prevented the Ginwala inquiry, from disclosing contents of the letter, claiming that it was privileged information.

Dr Frene Ginwala, who chairs the inquiry, has revealed that the office of the presidency has now backed down, and has ordered that the contents of the president's letter be made public.