With the embattled suspended public protector (PP) Busisiwe Mkhwebane who called Dali Mpofu’s lawyer has gone on two days of verbal attacks on Stellenbosch University professor Thuli Madonsela, legal experts yesterday raised eyebrows about Mpofu’s attitude, bordering on disregard for Ethics.
insult
This is after the hearing went down to a new low – from mocking about her appearance, qualifications, to the question of whether she was born in South Africa.
Ironically, Madonsela warned parliamentarians about Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office that it was not her who was facing an impeachment trial, but Mpofu’s client – Mkhwebane.
“Again, Mr Mpofu, this is not my impeachment … this is your client’s impeachment,” Madonsela said. In her closing remarks – marking the end of her tumultuous testimony – Madonsela thanked the committee for the “privilege of being a witness”, despite their reluctance.
Feeling surprised that he was a defendant, he said, “I was surprised to be asked if I was a lawyer or not. “I was surprised to be asked where I was born.
“The only question I don’t ask is whether I’m a boy or a girl – and to prove it.” Madonsela found it “irrelevant” to be asked if she was a lawyer – urging those in doubt about her credentials to ask on the Legal Practice Council (LPC) website.
“I’m an advocate,” he told the committee. In one of his heated exchanges with Mpofu, he told him: “You Mr. Mpofu … what you are doing is shocking. “You have taken what [former president] Jacob Zuma spoke about me, about my appearance, and brought it to this committee.
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‘Unprofessional’
“That’s horrible and unprofessional, sir.” When Accountability Now executive director lawyer Paul Hoffman admitted that Mpofu’s outburst was out of line, University of Pretoria senior law lecturer Dr Llewelyn Curlewis, described his behavior as “highly unethical and disrespectful to colleagues in the legal profession”.
“Not only should Madonsela’s advocate report her actions, committee chairman Qubudile Dyantyi should also ask the LPC to investigate and possibly discipline her.
“His conduct is for the first time a violation of the limitations imposed by law on cross-examination. “He is playing people and certainly not the law.
“Unacceptable, arrogant and disrespectful,” Curlewis said. Against the background of Mkhwebane has experienced the wrath of the SA court of law, which questioned her report and overturned her recommendation, Hoffman said Mpofu out of depth.
“Mpofu has a very difficult brief, as his client has been repeatedly condemned, condemned and ordered to pay punitive costs by the courts,” Hoffman said.
“Because he had very little material to check Thuli, he chose to play the woman and not the ball. “All this in the hope that he will shake Thuli, which he has not been able to do.” With Mkhwebane’s testimony next Wednesday, the committee is expected to complete the meeting in the next few weeks. In a letter to the committee, Mkhwebane’s lawyer, Seanago, said: “We appreciate your suggestion to overcome the prejudice caused by the unexpected schedule change by requesting that the public defender’s statement be sent in two installments.
“However, unfortunately, it will not reduce the problem we have. “In that place, it is only fair and reasonable to postpone the submission of the public defender’s statement to a date not earlier than March 20 and the beginning of evidence until March 27.”
Among other witnesses who will testify after Mkhwebane is Build One South Africa leader Mmusi Maimane.
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– brians@citizen.co.za