Parliament wants fairness in removal of Mkhwebane

THE national legislature wants to ensure fairness when it embarks on the removal process of Pubic Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane after the DA levelled allegations of incompetence and misconduct against her.

This was the word from the National Assembly programme committee when it met yesterday after the panel that conducted assessment on the allegations found Mkhwebane has a case to answer.

Briefing the committee, Secretary to the National Assembly Masibulele Xaso said the rules provided that the report be placed before Parliament to consider the report with due urgency.

“If the House agrees with the report, it will be referred to a committee of the National Assembly,” Xaso said.

He also said the multiparty committee would have to establish the veracity of the allegations.

“The committee must ensure the inquiry is conducted in a reasonable and procedurally fair manner within reasonable time frame. The committee must afford the holder of the office the right to be heard in her own defence and to be assisted by a legal practitioner of her choice,” Xaso said.

The meeting agreed to a proposal by ANC chief whip Pemmy Majodina to table the report on March 16, except the EFF. EFF MP Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi said the national legislature needed to find its feet on how to deal with the matter.

DA chief whip Natasha Mazzone said it would be in Parliament’s interest to have a senior counsel to advise on the correct process to be followed.