Inquiry into the public protector’s future mooted

THE FUTURE of Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane remains uncertain after Speaker Baleka Mbete asked a committee overseeing her functions to decide whether to hold an inquiry into her removal.

This followed a complaint against Mkhwebane relating to her reports that have been labelled by opposition parties and civil society as shoddy.

The chairperson of the portfolio committee on justice and correctional services, Mathole Motshekga, confirmed yesterday that they would discuss the matter next month.

He said since it had been referred by Mbete it would be up to the committee to decide whether to hold an inquiry or not.

“The committee will consider the matter. We will consider the referral because the matter has been referred to us by the Speaker. Our committee is competent enough to deal with the matter,” said Motshekga.

The DA had complained that Mkhwebane was not fit to hold office after she produced shoddy reports on the Estina dairy farm project and not handling the CIEX report into the bailout of Bankorp properly.

Mkhwebane was questioned recently for exonerating former Free State premier Ace Magashule and former mineral resources minister Mosebenzi Zwane on their role in the Estina project and awarding it to the Guptas.

The DA and the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution have taken the report on review in the High Court in Pretoria.

Mkhwebane is sitting on a mounting legal bill because her reports have been challenged in court.

The official opposition wants her to be removed from her position.

Motshekga said they would not be dictated by anyone as to how they should do their work.

The committee will meet next month to decide whether to hold an inquiry or not.

DA chief whip John Steenhuisen said he wanted to make a presentation to the committee on why Mkhwebane should be removed.

But Motshekga said they would not be told by anyone how to do their work.

“We don’t need an extra hand from anybody. If Steenhuisen’s party wants him to participate in the committee, he can.

“Any member sent by their party can participate in the committee, but there is no special dispensation for Steenhuisen to make a presentation,” said Motshekga.

“We are quite well informed about the issues, we will be able to make a decision there.

“We are not holding an inquiry on that day (of the meeting). We will decide whether an inquiry is needed or not,” he added.

“If we decide to hold an inquiry that will be subject to a process and that process is subjected to the programme of Parliament,” Motshekga said.