Busi threat has DA ‘concerned’
Democratic Alliance (DA) deputy chief whip Mike Waters yesterday noted with “concern” Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s threat to take legal action against him, after he reported State Security Minister David Mahlobo for lying to parliament, while declining to take action against Mahlobo.
Mkhwebane’s office accused the opposition party of pushing a “certain narrative” around the public protector’s investigation into Mahlobo, after the party shared a provisional report it received, which was a confidential document.
“It is profoundly disappointing that the office of the public protector has the time to threaten me with criminal proceedings when not a single person has been charged in connection with state capture. This despite the extraordinary work done by Mkhwebane’s predecessor in exposing corruption at the highest level, as detailed in the State of Capture report. Instead, we are witness to near-daily revelations of corruption and looting by the political elite and their criminal associates who operate with complete impunity,” Waters said in a statement yesterday.
He added that Mkhwebane’s priorities are indeed skewed and urged her “to commit her time and resources to tackling the threat of state capture”.
In November last year, Waters reported Mahlobo to the public protector for violating the Executive Members Ethics Act, claiming that the minister had deliberately misled parliament about his relationship with controversial #FeesMustFall leader Mcebo Dlamini.
Speaking during a panel discussion hosted by the Institute for Security Studies on November 14, Mahlobo stated that he knew Dlamini, who had visited his house several times. Yet, two days later, replying to a question in parliament posed by the DA, Mahlobo said Dlamini had never been to his house.
However, Mkhwebane concluded in her provisional report – based on the evidence at her disposal – that it could not be found that Mahlobo had wilfully misled parliament. The report was issued on September 1 and the DA was given an opportunity to provide information contradicting the contents of the provisional report, on or before September 11. Failing this, the matter would be considered closed.
Waters, instead of commenting on the report, issued a media statement along with a link to the document, which – according to Mkhwebane – is a contravention of the Public Protector Act. – Citizen reporter