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- Chief District Attorney Natasha Mazzone says Busisiwe Mkhwebane was trying to delay a parliamentary process to have her removed by court order.
- Mazzone said this on Friday welcoming the Western Cape High Court’s decision to dismiss Mkhwebane’s request to halt the impeachment process of Parliament.
- The court ruled that Mkhwebane did not meet the requirements for an order.
The district attorney says that now that the Western Cape High Court has dismissed Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s request to stop Parliament’s deportation proceedings against her, President Thandi Modise should not delay in appointing an independent panel to the process.
Mkhwebane’s attempt to halt parliamentary expulsion proceedings was dismissed at cost on Friday, News24 reported.
In a statement, Chief District Attorney Natasha Mazzone said Modise should appoint an independent panel to determine if there was a prima facie case for Parliament to proceed with the deportation procedure.
READ | Superior Court dismisses Public Protector’s proposal to stop parliamentary deportation proceedings
“The Democratic Alliance welcomes the decision of the Western Cape Division of the High Court to dismiss the frivolous request of the Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, to intercept Parliament’s investigation into his fitness for office.
“Mkhwebane’s tenure as Public Protector tarnishes the once proud reputation of this vital Chapter 9 institution of holding the Executive to account without fear or favor. Under his leadership, the institution has suffered one blow after another in South African courts and it leaves a distinct impression of toothlessness and ineptitude, “Mazzone said.
Mkhwebane’s court battle began in February after he filed an urgent injunction request to stop his removal proceedings, which was initially launched with Modise’s approval of the district attorney’s motion, News24 reported.
Public interest
Judge Vincent Saldanha ruled, among other things, that there would be “serious damage to the public interest, together with the separation of powers, damage to the National Assembly if the process is not carried out.”
Saldanha said the relief Mkhwebane was seeking would not only affect his position, but would prevent the National Assembly from holding other heads of Chapter 9 institutions accountable.
On Thursday, the National Assembly Programming Committee heard that it could proceed with the impeachment process, pending the ruling, unless the court orders not to do so. Modise is in the process of appointing an independent three-person panel to determine if there is a prima facie case for Mkhwebane’s removal.
Mazzone said Mkhwebane’s injunction was an attempt by her to “delay and thwart” the investigation and invalidate a legitimate parliamentary process for her removal.
“She has done immeasurable damage to the Office of the Public Protector. South Africa needs someone who is independent and without reproach to run this institution. South Africans must know that the Public Protector is above reproach and is fully vested in his powers. interests above those of the rich and powerful who seek to take over the country for their own nefarious purposes. ”
