Attorneys have not withdrawn, says Mkhwebane

The committee continued with its public hearing this morning, after denying Mkhwebane an earlier adjournment request.

On Friday, Mkhwebane requested to be given “time and space” to deal with the issue of her legal team and thereafter to communicate the outcome of her discussions with her current legal team.

It followed the decision by Advocate Dali Mpofu to withdraw from the proceedings.

This morning, Mkhwebane said she has spoken to the legal team and informed them they are still her chosen team.

"I was left in a position where the committee needed to know whether or not the legal representatives were intending to withdraw as incorrectly asserted to by others hence I made the request to be granted a week to ascertain the correct position which was unfairly rejected by the committee which gave me one working day to do so. I now wish to report that the progress available at such a short space of time.

"As far as the attorneys' are concerned, although I have yet to be able to have a physical meeting, we have discussed over the phone , we had a long consultation yesterday as well as they have sent you a letter as a chairperson and accordingly I can now confirm that as reported in the committee last week they have not withdrawn. They are still my attorneys' of choice and I have instructed them to write a separate letter to the committee and I hope that once and for all clarifies the position that remains unchanged."

Mkhwebane adds that she had hoped to meet with her attorneys on Tuesday or Wednesday.

"However, due to the short time given to me by the committee and due to pre-existing commitments, I have not been able to secure a physical consultation with counsel . There is a sensitive arrangement to hold an urgent consultation upon the availability either today in the evening or tomorrow so the availability of counsel is unfortunately that they are not available to attend the committee this week."

ALSO READ