Mkhwebane on the mat

PUBLIC Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane faces the wrath of Parliament after the justice committee warned her to stay away from commenting on expanding the terms of reference of the commission of inquiry into state capture.

Chairperson of the committee Mathole Motshekga yesterday promised that they would grill her on her comments when she appears in Parliament soon.

He urged Mkhwebane to keep her mouth shut as the report of the public protector was binding and could only be changed by the court.

Motshekga said the inquiry into state capture should be in line with the recommendations of former public protector Thuli Madonsela. Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo will head the commission of inquiry.

This comes as President Jacob Zuma yesterday missed the deadline set by the DA to publish the terms of reference for the commission of inquiry into state capture. The DA has not indicated its next course of action.

Motshekga said Mkhwebane’s comments were causing confusion. However, he warned they would deal with Mkhwebane when she appeared before the committee in the next few weeks.

Parliament has been in recess since the beginning of December and would resume its business next week.

Mkhwebane has been calling for Zuma to expand the terms of reference to include some of the issues not covered in Madonsela’s report.

But Motshekga said Mkhwebane must respect the remedial action of her predecessor.

“That remedial action confines itself to what should form part of the inquiry. It is not for her to request an expansion of the terms of reference for the state capture inquiry.”