George Municipality busy remedial steps after damning report by Public Protector

The report by the Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane found that there was an irregular investment of public funds. Image: @championtenza

Mkhwebane denies releasing report to sabotage ANC’s electoral prospects

The ANC in the Eastern Cape essentially accused Busisiwe Mkhwebane of releasing the report just before elections, as a political move

George Municipality busy remedial steps after damning report by Public Protector

The report by the Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane found that there was an irregular investment of public funds. Image: @championtenza

Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane has hit back at the ANC in the Eastern Cape after it suggested that she released her damning report to jeopardise the party, particularly as it finds itself on the campaign trail, ahead of the local government elections.

Mkhwebane found that Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane unduly benefitted to the tune of R450 000 from a R1.1 million tender that was meant for the memorial service of struggle icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, but that’s not all: The ANC in the province was also paid R288 000, the public protector also found.

When the Eastern Cape’s ANC PEC responded to the report, it seemed to imply Mkhwebane’s releasing of the report was politically motivated.

“It is unfortunate that the report of the Public Protector (PP) is released on the verge of the local government elections when it was finalised two months back. This stance and timing regrettably weaponised the belief that the PP is a party to intra-party and external factionalism,” the PEC said.

The Public Protector stands by her report

In a statement, Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane the report was released along with seven others at the office’s most recent end-of-quarter media briefing, adding that her office does not stop exercising its powers or performing its functions merely because an election is approaching.

Given that the party has been implicated, Mkhwebane says the ANC in the Eastern Cape should rather concern itself with the contents of the report, including whether public funds were indeed directed to undue beneficiaries.

“The office of the Public Protector stands by its report. The office has also taken note of intentions by some of the parties to obtain an order suspending the implementation of the remedial action, pending the judicial review of the report. The office looks forward to a speedy review process to pave the way for full accountability,” the office said.

Mabuyane has since directed his legal team to take the report on judicial review.