Mkhwebane’s first witness at inquiry sings her praises
THE first witness to testify on behalf of suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane at Parliament’s inquiry into her fitness to hold office told the committee about the “game-changing” moment when Mkhwebane’s intervention rescued his organisation’s venue.
South African Roadies Association (Sara) president and founder Freddie Nyathela said his complaint to the PPSA against the National Arts Council (NAC) had stalled for 11 years despite having been lodged with two of Mkhwebane’s predecessors, Lawrence Mushwana and Thuli Madonsela.
Nyathela, who was being led in his evidence to the committee by Mkhwebane’s senior counsel Dali Mpofu, said his breakthrough “magic moment” came four months after Mkhwebane was appointed when she agreed to meet with him and hear his complaint.
He said he did not know Mkhwebane and had no expectations when he wrote to her in January 2017 asking for a meeting where he could explain his problem with the NAC.
He testified that what Mkhwebane said to him at the meeting would stay with him for the rest of his life.
“As I briefed the public protector, what struck me were her words. She said: ‘I get you. This (project) is not about you but about our children and grandchildren’.
“Tears came out of my eyes and I would have been happy even if the whole process had ended there.”
He said the meeting gave him hope and courage. After the release of the public protector’s report, the case was referred by Sara to the Hawks who reviewed the report and opened up a case against the then-NAC chief executive. Sara is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the advancement of skills and knowledge among the youth in the technical sector of sound and production.
Nyathela said Mkhwebane’s intervention resulted in Sara’s venue being properly renovated and handed over in February 2022.
He testified about being unhappy at the handover because Mkhwebane couldn’t attend as she was busy appearing before the inquiry.
When evidence leader Nazreen Bawa took over Nyathela’s questioning, she asked him about the charges Mkhwebane faced before the committee on the Vrede Dairy or the Reserve Bank issue. He said he knew nothing about those matters.
Nyathela told Bawa that as far as his case was concerned Mkhwebane was fully competent.