Mkhwebane ‘misquoted’ on poisoning claims
The Office of the Public Protector has rejected reports that Busisiwe Mkhwebane was poisoned.
Various media reported over the weekend that Mkhwebane was poisoned in a plot to deter investigations into the 'rogue unit' at the South African Revenue Service.
But spokesperson for the public protector, Oupa Segalwe, says Mkhwebane was misquoted.
"I don't know if they are being deliberate about this or what, but they are misquoting what she said. If you read the speech she delivered on Friday, she does not claim to have been poisoned. In fact, she says threats of poisoning her have been made against her."
Segalwe was unable to disclose the source of the threats for legal reasons.
"Her interpretation of all of this is that it was measures geared towards unsettling her as she was working on that particular investigation."
He adds that a complaint was lodged with the police following a security breach at the public protector’s home.
"Her security is provided for by the South African Police and so it was brought to their attention and necessary measures were put in place to avoid any future breaches."