High Court dismisses Mkhwebane’s bid to return to work
Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane was suspended by President Cyril Ramaphosa, pending the conclusion of a probe into her fitness for office
Public Protector, Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane remains suspended after the High Court in the Western Cape dismissed her urgent application to return to her office.
Last month, the same court set aside President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to suspend Mkhwebane, just a day after she had sent 31 questions to him, as part of her investigation into the Phala Phala farm robbery.
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BUSISIWE MKHWEBANE REMAINS SUSPENDED
The High Court in the Western Cape’s judgement means Busisiwe Mkhwebane remains suspended. However, the court wants Mkhwebane’s suspension to be handled by the Constitutional Court.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) subsequently launched an application for leave to appeal the High Court’s decision – the bid immediately suspended the ruling. Ramaphosa is also challenge the move to nullify his suspension of Mkhwebane.
While Mkhwebane, currently the subject of a Section 194 fitness inquiry, is under fire from Ramaphosa and several political parties, she does also enjoy some support. ATM leader Vuyo Zungula has slammed the inquiry, saying it is actually aimed at personally attacking Mkhwebane and has nothing to do with her fitness to hold office.
“This has got nothing to do with the competence of the Public Protector, but it is a personal vendetta, personal hatred against Advocate Mkhwebane. If you look at the performance of the office of the Public Protector under the leadership of advocate Mkhwebane, firstly, she’s the very first Public Protector to get three-straight clean audits, even the presidency, and other departments failed to get clean audits. Secondly, she’s completed more reports than any other Public Protector,” Zungula said.
Mkhwebane’s deputy, Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka has been acting in her place.
