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Public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane.
- The date on which the independent panel, which will determine whether there is a prima facie case for the removal of Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane, will begin its work has yet to be determined.
- It seems unlikely this year.
- The district attorney has welcomed the appointment of the panel.
The independent panel that will determine if there is a prima facie In the case of the dismissal of Public Protector Busisiwe Mkwhebane, he will probably only start his work next year.
On Wednesday, National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise announced in a statement that former Constitutional Court Judge Bess Nkabinde would chair the panel, which also includes attorney Dumisa Ntsebeza, SC, and attorney Johan De Waal, SC.
Parliament indicated that Modise would later announce the date the panel will begin its work. Once the panel begins its work, it has 30 days to compile a report with recommendations to the National Assembly.
READ | Mkhwebane’s fate in the hands of three legal heavyweights
At Thursday’s meeting of the National Assembly Programming Committee, Chief District Attorney Natasha Mazzone, who introduced the motion to initiate deportation proceedings against Mkhwebane, said she was “very pleased” that Modise had appointed the panel.
He asked for an indication of when the panel will start working. He said it is highly unlikely that it will be this year as it will soon be the holiday season and Parliament will stand up after next week.
He said it was a “matter of national importance and national urgency.”
Date
National Assembly Secretary Masibulele Xaso said there was no date for the panel to begin at this time and that they were still addressing some “preliminary issues”, including contracts.
He said Modise would announce the date soon. He agreed with Mazzone that it would be difficult for the panel to “stop and start” during the Christmas season.
In a statement released shortly after the meeting, Mazzone said the district attorney welcomed the panel’s appointment.
“This has been months of preparation, thanks to the relentless pressure from the Prosecutor’s Office. We hope that the panel will not waste time in starting its work as these procedures are a matter of national importance,” he said.
“The district attorney is pleased that Parliament is now one step closer to holding Mkhwebane accountable, despite her numerous attempts to delay, thwart and invalidate a legitimate parliamentary process to impeach her.
“In the interests of accountability and respect for state institutions, the Office of the Public Protector must and must continue to be the vanguard protecting the interests of the vulnerable, something that is rare to see under Mkhwebane’s leadership.”
