Lerato Mbhiza
The Final Report of the multiparty Section 194 Committee looking into suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office has been adopted.
The majority of the parties the ANC, DA, IFP and FF Plus supported her removal from office with the exception of the EFF, who said they will take it on review. The ATM also rejected the report and said it will back any party that takes it to court.
After the suspended Public Protector missed her deadline to respond to a draft report about her fitness to hold office, the multi-party committee decided enough was enough and denied her request for an extension and voted to adopt the report, signaling their support for her removal.
Mkhwebane has already been found guilty by the committee on four counts of misconduct and incompetence, confirming findings by an independent panel, which had probed her fitness to hold office and had given her until Monday to respond to its findings in its draft report.
But the ANC’s Bheki Nkosi said they don’t have time to consider the new request.
“The circumstances and the deadlines do not allow us to positively consider the request from the attorneys,” he said
The inquiry continues and is expected to adopt its final report for the National Assembly’s consideration.
The charges draw on Mkhwebane’s conduct during the investigations and the subsequent litigation, which invariably ended badly for Mkhwebane.
Having made a litany of findings against Mkhwebane, the committee found that the charges against her have been sustained, and subsequently agreed to recommend her removal.
“This is today the final word of the committee on this,” said committee chairperson, ANC MP Qubudile Dyantyi.
Dyantyi said despite the objections of the EFF and ATM, most of the parties support the final report.
“This section 194 committee has adopted its final report that it will submit to the national assembly. The majority of the members have supported the removal of the suspended public protector. This is the final word of the committee”.
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