PHUTI MOSOMANE
PUBLIC Protector, Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane announced on Friday she will host a media briefing next Tuesday.
Mkhwebane said she will address issues on allegations of extortion, bribery and corruption lodged with the police and Parliament’s Ethics Committee.
The media briefing comes after her failed attempt to have chairperson of the Parliamentary Inquiry into her fitness to hold office, Qubudile Dyantyi to recuse himself due to allegations that he colluded with ANC Chief Pemmy Majodina and the late Tina Joemat-Pettersson to solicit bribes.
Mkhwebane has raised the allegations against Dyantyi and said he must recuse himself, and failing which, the matter can’t continue.
On Friday Mkhwebane told the Parliamentary Inquiry into her fitness to hold office that she was not prepared to be represented by the state attorney in her impeachment inquiry in parliament because it would create a conflict of interest in the current and potentially further litigation surrounding the matter.
State attorney Representative Isaac Chowe said Mkhwebane has rejected being represented by the state attorney’s office due to a conflict of interest as the State Attorney Cape Town office also appointed the section 194 enquiry evidence leaders.
State attorney’s office also told the inquiry that Mkhwebane has an issue if she is expected to pay out of her own pocket if the additional R4m allocated for her legal fees gets exhausted in the remaining 22 days.
But Mkhwebane said the office of the Public Protector South Africa decided to terminate the services of her lawyers Chane Attorneys.
“The letter I wrote to Chowe states that I can have anyone from the list, State Attorneys are not members of the attorneys at PPSA database. PPSA decided to terminate Chane who is in hospital,” she said.
Dyantyi announced on Friday that the Section 194 committee will no longer insist on hearing oral evidence from Mkhwebane.
He has now instructed committee members and evidence leaders to present their questions to her in writing. This move will be interpreted as a means of forging ahead in any way possible instead of solving outstanding issues.
According to Dyantyi, Mkhwebane will be given written questions on aspects of the removal motion so she can reply and if she fails the committee will make findings.
Mkhwebane also criticised the new process undertaken by the section 194 enquiry saying it is not provided for in the directives and is unlawful.
But Dyantyi responded by saying that he will issue new amended directives.
He insisted that Mkhwebane will be given a chance to comment on the draft report before it’s tabled in the national assembly.
In the closing of the deliberation, Mkhwebane reminded the inquiry that she was illegally suspended last year on this day by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
It has been nine months since the Western Cape Court ruled in her favour and declared that Ramaphosa’s suspension was invalid and unlawful.
Mkhwebane’s seven year term comes to an end in October 2023. On Monday, Parliament will start the process to call for nominations for candidates to become the next Public Protector.
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