Ramaphosa gives Mkhwebane 10 days to provide reasons why she should not be suspended
Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane has been given 10 days by President Cyril Ramaphosa to explain why he should not remove her from heading the chapter 9 institution.
Spokesperson for the Office of the Public Protector Oupa Segalwe says Mkhwebane has received a letter from President Ramaphosa, informing her of the decision by Parliament to resume the impeachment process against her.
Parliament on Wednesday confirmed the Section 194 Committee will now go ahead with its impeachment proceedings against Mkhwebane.
Segalwe says Mkhwebane will meet with her legal team first thing on Friday morning since she has not yet received the official notice from Parliament.
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“The letter in question was strangely not copied to the Public Protector. She learnt about it from the mass media.
“This afternoon (Thursday), the Public Protector received a letter from the president confirming the news reports and informing her that he is considering suspending her in terms of section 194(3)(a).
“Although the president's letter makes reference to the correspondence from the speaker and purports to attach it, no such letter was actually attached, suggesting a rushed process.”
Mkhwebane will request a copy of the letter in question from the president on Friday.
“In addition, the Public Protector wishes to assure stakeholders that while she is not averse to being held to account, she will always seek to ensure that the work of the Office of the Public Protector is not unduly and unlawfully disrupted,” adds Segalwe.
