The investigation has been on hold for the past two weeks while the Presidency and the Democratic Alliance were at the Constitutional Court to challenge the high court’s decision to lift Mkhwebane’s suspension.
FILE: Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane. Photo: Abigail Javier/EWN
CAPE TOWN – An inquiry into suspended public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office will resume in Parliament on Monday.
READ: Mkhwebane’s fight to keep her job continues at Concourt
The inquiry has been on hiatus for the past two weeks while the presidency and the Democratic Alliance (DA) have been at the Constitutional Court to challenge the high court’s decision to lift Mkhwebane’s suspension.
READ: Mkhwebane slams Ramaphosa prosecutors for bringing personal costs order against her
This week it will be Mkhwebane’s turn to call his first two witnesses to testify as part of the impeachment inquiry.
But not before the Section 194 committee hears another call from her legal team to remove evidence leaders.
Four months after the impeachment inquiry began, the Section 194 committee has yet to hear Public Protector Busisiwe Mkwebane’s side of the story.
The committee heard evidence from twenty witnesses who testified on the four charges against Mkhwebane.
READ: Mkhwebane deals another blow in comeback bid
But the hearing was delayed several times to deal with legal challenges initiated by Mkhwebane and to hear recusals against inquiry chairman Richard Dianti, DA MP Kevin Myleham and chief evidence officer Nazrin Bawa.
On Monday, the inquest is scheduled to consider another impeachment motion by two evidence leaders.
It comes as some legal advisers are unhappy that the fees they earned from the DA’s office were made public during evidence.
The last witnesses called to testify were from the legal department of the Prosecutor’s Office.
They gave evidence of the office’s legal costs to defend the legal challenges brought against Mkhwebane.
The first of two witnesses scheduled to testify in Mkhwebane’s defense this week is South African Roadmen’s Association chairman Freddie Nyatela, for whom Mkhwebane appeared in the case against the National Arts Council.
