Public protector probe off – for now

Parliament’s portfolio committee on justice yesterday decided to hold off on an investigation into Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office, leading the Democratic Alliance to accuse it of failing in its duty.

The committee voted five to one in favour of a proposal from ANC MP Moloko Maila to wait until the High Court in Pretoria has pronounced on an application to have Mkhwebane’s report on the Vrede dairy farm in the Free State declared unconstitutional.

The Economic Freedom Fighters abstained, with MP Thilivhali Mulaudzi saying he needed to consult his party’s chief whip. James Selfe from the DA voted against the proposal.

The court application on the Vrede dairy farm was brought by the DA and the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution.

The parties argued in October that Mkhwebane had not acted prudently in her probe and had failed to investigate senior politicians implicated in corruption and money laundering that sank the agriculture project.

The DA has for months pushed for the committee to start proceedings to remove Mkhwebane, citing her poor record and the scathing court findings on her report on the Absa/Bankorp matter.

James Selfe said the ANC caucus appeared to have lost any appetite to investigate Mkhwebane.

“It seemed to me that people have closed ranks ahead of next year’s election.” – ANA