Natasha Mazzone Busisiwe Mkhwebane Public Protector

220719w- News -Johannesburg- Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane at the constituional court,the highest court in the land has ruled that Mkhwebane put falsehoods, her investigation was flawed in the Bank/korp Absa investigation – Photo: Felix Dlangamandla / Netwerk24 / Christiaan du Plessis

Mkhwebane confident Parliament will clear her of wrongdoing

Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane is still on her three-month sabbatical, which was granted by Parliamentary speaker Thandi Modise in January

Natasha Mazzone Busisiwe Mkhwebane Public Protector

220719w- News -Johannesburg- Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane at the constituional court,the highest court in the land has ruled that Mkhwebane put falsehoods, her investigation was flawed in the Bank/korp Absa investigation – Photo: Felix Dlangamandla / Netwerk24 / Christiaan du Plessis

Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane believes she’ll survive the Parliamentary bid and judicial proceedings aimed at removing her from office. An independent panel found there was prima facie evidence of misconduct and incompetence on her part. The panel consists of Constitutional Court Judge, Justice Bess Nkabinde (who leads it) as well as advocates Dumisa Ntsebeza and Johan de Waal.

“The report is a pronouncement on the alleged existence of prima facie evidence against the Public Protector and not findings of wrongdoing,” her office said,

“It should be noted there are still court processes in relation to this matter. The public protector is confident both the parliamentary process and the judicial proceedings, which are before the high court and the Constitutional Court, will ultimately result in her being cleared of any alleged wrongdoing”

The Democratic Alliance (DA), which initiated the bid said Mkhwebane’s independence and credibility have also been called into questions on a number of occasions and she has failed to inspire trust within the public.

“The DA believes that it is of the utmost importance that Mkhwebane be removed as Public Protector and that someone competent, credible and independent is appointed in this post to regain the public’s trust in this crucial Chapter 9 institution and to ensure that once again the interests of the vulnerable would be protected above the interests of the politically connected,” the DA’s Natasha Mazzone said.

Busisiwe Mkhwebane: Parliamentary probe has no impact on office’s work

The public protector has further said that the parliamentary process has had no bearing on the direct functioning of her office and remains fully operational.

“Staff across the office’s 18 service centres across the country remain hard at work, processing all incoming complaints of maladministration and improper conduct in line with the office’s constitutional mandate,” she said.

The independent panel cited several examples of her alleged misconduct and incompetence, including repeated errors in interpreting the law, incorrect  factual analysis and her failure  to reveal that she had meetings with the former president Jacob Zuma and the Social Security Agency.