Inquiry cannot continue without legal team: Mkhwebane

Mkhwebane, who is facing a Section 194 inquiry in Parliament, finds herself without a legal team after the Office of the Public Protector indicated that it cannot pay her legal fees beyond 31 March.

She has so far racked up more than R25 million in legal bills.

Mkhwebane told the committee on Monday that the inquiry cannot continue without her lawyers being present. 

“For your sake and for the sake of the committee and Parliament, it would be better if the chairperson can make sure that we get resources for the legal team to be paid because we cannot continue without the legal team,” she said.   

Advocate Dali Mpofu, who led her legal team up until Friday, said Mkhwebane cannot be expected to answer any questions.  

“Today will not be waisted due to unverified payment issues. We will continue but the public protector will not answer any questions on matters that have already been concluded.

Previously, Mpofu announced to the enquiry that Friday effectively marked the end of their mandate to represent Mkhwebane as the office of the Public Protector South Africa (PPSA) has indicated that it would no longer pay for Mkhwebane’s legal fees beyond the end of March. 

Mpofu said they had hoped for some miracle to end the impasse. 

According to the PPSA, the total expenditure for Mkhwebane’s legal fees including the litigation on the impeachment process as well as the proceedings before the enquiry, amount to R26.2 million. 

The office says an amount of R14. 9 million was originally budgeted for the 2022/23 financial year. 

The committee’s chairperson Qubudile Dyantyi said it would be unfair to MKhwebane and everyone involved to stop the process at this stage.  

Friday was the sixth day of testimony by Mkhwebane and she was scheduled to appear before the inquiry for nine days. 

Dyantyi said funds would have to be found for Mkhwebane and that it does not have to be from the PPSA.

ALSO READ: