Despite losing several cases – in some of which she was forced by the court to pay personal costs – Public Protector (PP) advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane yesterday denied that she had lost “every case”.
Throughout his testimony this week, Mkhwebane maintained that the reason he was pulled before a parliamentary inquiry into his fitness to hold office was because of his daring investigation into powerful politicians, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, into the Phala Phala game farm. scandal.
‘Incompetent’
“Then I was labeled as incompetent and ignorant of the law,” Mkhwebane said during the Section 194 Committee meeting.
Bashed by the mainstream media, Mkhwebane said it was “blown out of proportion that I am criticizing my predecessor”, lawyer Thuli Madonsela, when she presented the Public Protector SA’s annual report to parliament for the first time.
Asked by lawyer Dali Mpofu about her competence, Mkhwebane said evidence of her achievements refuted claims that she was incompetent.
Among his achievements there are: – Going through the “comprehensive” list of leveled complaints in relation to the SA Revenue Service high-risk unit, which became the subject of various targets after starting to investigate alleged organized criminal enterprises.
READ MORE: Mpofu says he blames Mkhwebane for delaying Madonsela’s testimony
Dismissed claim
Some of these claims formed the basis of the overturned prosecution. With the CR17 issue being dragged into the inquiry, Mkhwebane bypassed the evidence Ramaphosa submitted in response to the public protector’s CR17 inquiry, which was invalidated by the court.
Mkhwebane said Ramaphosa confirmed his campaign had received a R500 000 donation from Bosasa who is accused of corruption.
The Commission of Inquiry into State Detention revealed that Ramaphosa’s son Andile benefited from Bosasa’s consultancy contract.
Asked about his previous job at the State Security Agency (SSA) and his transfer to China as a home affairs attache, Mkhwebane said his position required a security clearance. Referring to the day after he assumed office, Mpofu said Mkhwebane was “in the firing line”.
Sars
In granting the right of reply to Sars official Johann van Loggerenberg, as he was not a decision-maker, he said he was “the affected party, not the affected party”.
Mpofu said Van Loggerenberg’s “big gripe” was that he was not given the opportunity to respond. Mkhwebane said his employment at SSA and his post in China were the decisions of the home affairs department.
Also read: Five best moments from Mkhwebane’s impeachment trial
– brians@citizen.co.za