By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The parliamentary inquiry into Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office concluded with former Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela’s testimony on Tuesday, paving the way for her successor to defend herself.
Mkhwebane is facing a motion for her removal from office on the grounds of incompetence and misconduct.
The charges relate to her conduct when carrying out investigations and when defending reviews of her reports or remedial action in court.
The Section 194 Committee on Tuesday resolved that Mkhwebane’s oral testimony be delivered from next week Wednesday until the end of March.
The committee had refused to grant Mkhwebane permission to push her testimony to 27 March.
Earlier in the proceedings, parliamentary legal advisor, Fatima Ebrahim had revealed that Mkhwebane’s lawyers, Seanego Attorneys had written to the committee seeking to call more witnesses, including Build One South Africa (BOSA) leader Mmusi Maimane, following the conclusion of Madonsela’s testimony.
Ebrahim said Mkwhebane, in a letter, stated that she wants Maimane, who was willing to appear before the committee, to testify about the CR17 and Vrede Diary farm investigations.
The letter doesn’t speak to the question of whether they want Maimane to testify before the Public Protector commences her testimony so there is no clear request in that regard,” she said.
She indicated that nothing would prevent the committee from scheduling the witnesses after Public Protector’s testimony.
Ebrahim also told the committee that Mkhwebane also sought to have the deadline of the submission of her affidavit in order for her to testify pushed to 20 March.
The Public Protector is not compelled to submit a statement,” Ebrahim said.
The committee had previously given the Public Protector until 7 March to submit the document, but this was extended to 9 March.
Another issue Ebrahim raised to the committee was relating to Mkhwebane’s legal services.
She revealed that the Public Protector’s office had written to Mkhwebane, informing her that they can only pay her legal team until 31 March.
Deliberating on the issues raised by Mkhwebane, Democratic Alliance (DA) Kevin Mileham criticised Mkhwebane’s “never-ending” witness list.
“We seem to be about to hear from advocate Mkhwebane and they want to introduce new witnesses. I think we need to put a stop to this, “he said.
Mileham said the committee now needed to “draw a line in the sand”, urging members to reject Mkhwebane’s request for an extension until 20 March.
Mkhwebane is expected to testify from 15 to 31 March.
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Video Courtesy of Parliament.