By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Parliament’s section 194 committee is proceeding with the impeachment inquiry of Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane — regardless of her again turning to the Constitutional Court to rescind its dismissal of her earlier rescission bid.
In response to submissions by parliamentary legal advisor Siviwe Njikela, ANC MP Dorris Dlakude said it was clear there was “nothing that is stopping the committee from continuing [its work]”.
Mkhwebane said it was unjustifiable for MPs to press ahead with the inquiry in the prevailing atmosphere.
She said it would be wrong to begin the process when the other outstanding issues had not been resolved.
The public protector has laid criminal charges against Ismail Abramjee after he sent an SMS to counsel for Parliament, when they were in court last month seeking an interdict to stop the inquiry.
The SMS related to a judgment on the rescission application.
Chief Justice Raymond Zondo has promised to launch an investigation into the SMS saga.
The ball will get rolling in June and the hearings are scheduled to start in July when witnesses will appear to give evidence.
Mkhwebane has until 18 May to indicate her legal representative so (s)he can be copied in on correspondence, and until 22 May to make written representations on the National Assembly motion on the impeachment, according to a section 194 committee letter dated 22 April.
Meanwhile Deputy Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka told the Office of the State Attorney – which is representing Parliament – that Mkhwebane’s attorneys misrepresented her involvement in an investigation into a controversial text message.
Gcaleka made it clear that she was not involved in an investigation into the SMS that Abramjee sent, in which he alleged to have knowledge of a pending decision of the Constitutional Court.