The inquiry looked into Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold the post, but has yet to receive her responses to evidence that has been heard over the past four months.
FILE: Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane. Image: Sethembiso Zulu/Eyewitness News
CAPE TOWN – The impeachment inquiry into Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane is set to hear the first witness to testify in his own defense on Tuesday.
READ: Mkhwebane impeachment inquiry resumes in Parliament
But her lawyer, Dali Mpofu, said it pre-empts the outcome of an application filed on Monday to remove leaders of evidence.
The inquiry commission has not yet reviewed the application.
The inquiry looked into Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold the post, but has yet to receive her responses to evidence that has been heard over the past four months.
Mpofu said the witnesses they asked to testify before the investigation were unwilling to testify.
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The Commission will be asked to subpoena them.
They include Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, Acting Public Protector Gchalek Holeka and Democratic Alliance Member of Parliament Natasha Mazzone.
But Mpofu said the inquiry was jumping the gun, planning to hear its first witness until it properly considered Mkhwebane’s complaints against evidence leaders Nazrin Bawa and Nkumisa Mayosi.
Mkhwebane’s first witness is the complainant in the case against the National Arts Council, for whom Mkhwebane appeared.
“It’s a joke to spend taxpayer money on something so important and then just pretend the public defender didn’t say anything when she made some very serious statements here.”
Mpofu said a complaint is pending before the Legal Practice Board to demonstrate legal fees earned by lawyers who worked for the public protector’s office without prior consultation and out of context.
