State accused of not protecting dignity of Public Protector
Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane's legal counsel has accused state organs of not protecting the dignity of her office.
Arguments were heard in the North Gauteng High Court on Tuesday during Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan’s urgent application to have Mkhwebane's remedial action on the so-called SARS Rogue Unit suspended.
"Now, when you accuse the Public Protector of promoting state capture, of corruption and of pursuing partisan corrupt political interests you are not complying with the duties set out in Section 181 (of the Constitution) which requires that organs of state protect and assist the dignity of the Public Protector," Thabani Masuku told the court.
President Cyril Ramaphosa's powers, and whether he is able to discipline cabinet ministers, also came under scrutiny,
In her remedial action last month, Mkhwebane directed President Ramaphosa to take appropriate disciplinary action against Gordhan within 30 days of the release of her report.
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EFF legal counsel Tembeka Ngcukaitobi said Ramaphosa does have the power to discipline his cabinet.
"I cannot understand why the president is telling the court why he thinks he has no power to discipline his ministers. Because it seems quiet obvious that he does," argued Ngcukaitobi.