Mkhwebane tells Ramaphosa she’s back at work on Tuesday

Just weeks after Parliament’s Sectiom 194 Committee found Busisiwe Mkhwebane guilty of misconduct and incompetence, she has told President Cyril Ramaphosa she is reporting for work duty on Tuesday, 5 September 2023.

The committee adopted its final report and recently concluded its work, leaving her fate in the hands of the National Assembly.

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WILL MKHWEBANE BE ALLOWED BACK AT WORK?

In a statement posted on her X account, Busisiwe Mkhwebane posted a presidential minute signed by Ramaphosa, declaring her suspension on 9 June 2022.

The minute states the suspension is pending the finalisation of the inquiry into her fitness to hold office.

“According to the section 194 proceedings/inquiry has now been finalised.The period of suspension defined in the Presidential Minute issued in terms of section 194(3)(a),read with section 101(1)of the Constitution,has expired. Therefore and as a matter of courtesy and protocol Advocate Mkhwebane has advised President Ramaphosa that she will be reporting back to work tomorrow morning on Tuesday 5 September 2023,” Mkhwebane said in a statement.

Mkhwebane’s term ends in October, after which Kholeka Gcaleka will be appointed to the post. Gcaleka is currently the acting public protector and was recommended by Parliament for the job after beating several candidates.

HOW WE GOT HERE: The DA in parliament submitted the motion to institute removal proceedings against her back in February 2020, citing a number of scathing court judgements against her, particularly relating to some of her investigations including the Estina Dairy probe. In March 2021, Parliament then voted in support of establishing the committee, after adopting a report by a panel of experts, which found there were grounds for an investigation into the public protector’s fitness to hold office.

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