Huge blow for Mkhwebane after higher court dismisses request for permission to appeal



[ad_1]

By Se-Anne Rall Article publication time 6h ago

Share this article:

Durban – Public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s battle to intercept a parliamentary impeachment proceeding against her took a severe blow on Monday when the Western Cape High Court dismissed her request for permission to appeal.

Judge Vincent Saldanha ruled that Mkhwebane had not established any of the necessary grounds to allow him to appeal.

Last month, the same court dismissed Mkhwebane’s urgent interim injunction, preventing Parliament from continuing with its process.

At that time, IOL reported that Judge Saldanha rejected Mkhwebane’s request and added that the public went to the president of the National Assembly to discuss matters of this nature and those that affect public bodies.

Judge Saldanha said Mkhwebane had failed to justify why Parliament should not be allowed to continue the process to remove her.

Mkhwebane launched the request earlier this year to ban National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise from taking further action on her impeachment until she gets relief in which she wants to drop the rules and declare them unconstitutional.

Mkhwebane’s tenure as a public protector has been mired in controversy since she took over from Thuli Madonsela in 2016.

Chief District Attorney Natasha Mazzone has filed two motions calling for Mkhwebane’s removal.

Although the first motion was withdrawn, Mazzone made a second motion in February.

The district attorney reportedly sent thousands of pages of supplemental evidence to Modise.

Last week, Modise had appointed an independent review panel to determine whether there is a prima facie case against Mkhwebane.

Mazzone said the party hoped the panel would waste no time getting started.

“We are pleased that Parliament is now one step closer to holding Mkhwebane to account, despite her numerous attempts to delay, thwart and invalidate a legitimate parliamentary process to impeach her,” Mazzone said.

MESS



[ad_2]