Mkhwebane committee complains about delays, interruptions

MEMBERS of Parliament involved in the inquiry into suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office are concerned that the process has taken longer than expected and some have blamed Mkhwebane’s legal team for the delays.

The process was originally meant to have concluded at the end of this month but has been interrupted by breaks to allow Mkhwebane to lodge applications in court in a bid to scrap the hearings. Mkhwebane’s term of office ends in October next year.

The MPs’ complaints followed the recusal application lodged by Mkhwebane’s lawyer, advocate Dali Mpofu, last week against committee chairperson Qubudile Dyantyi (ANC) and committee member Kevin Mileham (DA).

Mpofu argued he had 12 grounds for Dyantyi’s recusal and that Mileham should recuse himself from the committee based on the fact that he is married to DA MP Natasha Mazzone, who brought the motion to impeach Mkhwebane to Parliament.

During a meeting on Friday, several MPs complained about the constant delays in the committee’s work.

ATM Party leader Vuyo Zungula said ANC committee members outnumbered other committee members and had a political interest in the matter. He warned that there was the danger of the recusal matter ending up in court.

DA MP Benedicta van Minnen said she was concerned that the process was running behind schedule and the last thing they wanted was to sit endlessly and never reach a conclusion.

GOOD Party committee member Brett Herron said the precedent-setting committee’s duty was to ensure that the process was fair and that whatever decision was made on the recusal issue should withstand scrutiny and have the confidence of the public.

Committee members also requested an investigation into Mpofu’s conduct during the September 13 hearing, alleging that he had threatened Dyantyi.

Dyantyi said he would table a comprehensive response to all the grounds raised in the recusal application.

“There is a need to respond to each of the 12 grounds in detail, paragraph by paragraph, in a very thorough way.

“Our response is going to be so thorough to demonstrate how these facts matter.”

Dyanti told members that the committee would reconvene in the first week of October.

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