By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Suspended public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane has slammed the Section 194 Committee to recommendation for her removal from office, saying certain “facts” had been swept under the carpet before reaching the decision.
Mkhwebane released a statement on Friday evening, after the Section 194 committee probing her fitness to hold office released its draft report on Friday.
The committee recommended her removal from office after finding her guilty of misconduct and incompetence.
She, however, argues the draft report is illegal.
“The so-called draft report was discussed and adopted at a time when the committee was fully aware that my attorneys had withdrawn on 3 August due to their ill-treatment at the hands of the chairperson and the committee,” says Mkhwebane.
She accused the Democratic Alliance (DA) and African National Congress (ANC) of working together to push a predetermined outcome.
“There can therefore be no decision of the committee to recommend my removal which can be taken before I have been given a proper opportunity to respond to the draft report,” she says.
Mkhwebane says the draft report was completed before she was done giving her testimony.
She insists: “The entire process is nothing but a travesty of justice which is riddled with these and other glaring illegalities.”
Mkhwebane was suspended by President Cyril Ramaphosa last year after she started probing the president’s Phala Phala matter.
The committee, chaired by ANC MP Richard Dyantyi , will now draw up its final report to be tabled in the National Assembly for determination.
Two-thirds of the National Assembly must support the report for adoption.
The committee’s legal advisor, Fatima Ibrahim said the report makes serious adverse findings of misconduct against Mkhwebane across a range of investigations, reports and her handling of subsequent litigation, as well as matters related to the expenditure of public funds.