DA moves against Mkhwebane for a second time
Updated | By Lindiwe Mpanza
The Democratic Alliance (DA) says the time has come for Parliament to hold the public protector accountable.
The official opposition has accused Busisiwe Mkhwebane of failing to restore integrity, competence and trust in her office.
It has submitted a request to new National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise to initiate a parliamentary inquiry into Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office.
This is the second time the DA has moved against Mkhwebane, with the previous bid to get an inquiry halted by justice committee in February.
But DA chief whip John Steenhuisen says Mkhwebane’s latest string of court losses have compromised her office’s integrity and independence.
"The latest indictment on Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office is the ruling by the North Gauteng High Court, setting aside the public protector’s report into the Vrede Dairy Project that was deemed unconstitutional and invalid."
The court ruled on Monday that Mkhwebane failed in her duties to investigate and report on the Gupta-linked project in the Free State.
In 2018, the DA and the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (Casac) applied to have the report on the project declared unconstitutional, reviewed and set aside.
Steenhuisen believes Mkhwebane has shown a poor understanding of both the law and her own powers.
"She jumped to the defence of former president Jacob Zuma by laying criminal charges against former public protector Thuli Madonsela for releasing the transcript of her interview with him.
“She also admitted to stepping outside of her mandate by recommending changing the constitution regarding the mandate of the South African Reserve Bank. She first consulted former [resident Zuma’s legal advisors and discussed further recommendations not included in her initial report into the Bankorp bailout."
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