And there endeth the bank’s lesson for Mkhwebane

Public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane consented to an order sought by the Reserve Bank to set aside her remedial action that set out a new and broader mandate for the institution. Her flip-flop prompted another bout of criticism of her abilities, let alone her motives, with the bank’s governor Lesetja Kyanyago saying in court papers she showed a “fundamental misunderstanding of the bank’s powers and functions”.

Later in the week, Mkhwebane said she would oppose President Jacob Zuma’s bid to have former protector Thuli Madonsela’s State of Capture report set aside, proving that, if nothing else, the protector is full of surprises, and possibly only half-captured.

Not so surprising was National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete’s claim that “some judges” take sides against the ANC in court cases. She was slapped down by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, who said he was “deeply concerned” about her comments.

E-tolls (remember them?) are working for someone, it seems. According to Transport Minister Joe Maswanganyi, foreign firms involved in administering them were paid tens of millions of rands, for providing e-tags and printing the statements motorists routinely throw in the bin. In just one year, R124-million was spent on printing costs.