The SA Council of Churches on Wednesday called on Absa to implement the remedial action of the public protector on the money the bank received during the apartheid era.

In its reaction‚ the council said it welcomed the findings of public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane.

“As the SACC‚ we believe it is better for the stability of our country that agreements are reached expeditiously‚ for due restitution to be made. In this regard‚ we believe that Absa should do the right thing and honour the Public Protector’s remedial action without delay. That is good for the country; and that is good for the common good‚” the council said in a statement.

However‚ it said it did not believe that it was the Public Protector’s duty to change laws‚ “not least the highest law in the land‚ the South African Constitution”.

Absa maintains it met all its obligations in Bankorp purchase

Mkhwebane released a number of reports‚ which included her findings on the controversial Ciex report‚ on Monday.

She found that the South African government breached its constitutional obligation to spend public money wisely when it made no effort to act on the findings of the 1997-1999 Ciex report‚ in which it was alleged that the SA Reserve Bank irregularly gave money to Bankorp – a predecessor of Absa.

One of her remedial actions is that Absa should pay back the R1.125-billion to the state.

However‚ Mkhwebane also recommended that the constitution be amended to stipulate that the Reserve Bank’s primary objectives include protecting citizens’ socio-economic conditions.

Both Absa and the SA Reserve Bank intend taking Mkhwebane’s report on review.

The recommendations Mkhwebane made on the constitution attracted criticism from the business community and the African National Congress‚ which said she overstepped the line of her powers.

WATCH: Why was Absa asked to pay back the money?

The SA Communist Party also expressed its concern on the recommendation and said she acted beyond her legal authority.

However‚ the SACP had some strong views on the SA Reserve Bank.

“Nevertheless the SACP wishes to reiterate its position that the real issue with the Reserve Bank is its singular constitutional mandate to ‘protect the value of the currency’. Even the US Federal Reserve Bank has an employment preservation mandate in addition to its currency value responsibilities…While in recent years the Reserve Bank has applied its inflation targeting mandate with a degree of flexibility‚ it still remains locked into an inappropriate paradigm for the realities confronting our country.”