By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Parliament’s committee considering advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office is inviting members of the public to submit statements for or against her ousting.
The committee, which met in a hybrid sitting on Wednesday, considered a provisional schedule with a working deadline of September 28 for its final report.That deadline follows three weeks set down for Mkhwebane to assess draft findings.
Last month, the committee wrote to Mkhwebane to invite her to provide a written response to the motion to remove her. This must reach it by 22 May.
The committee also asked her to inform it whether she intended to use a legal representative and other experts during the hearings.
The rules the National Assembly adopted in December 2019 to remove a Chapter 9 head, like the Public Protector, allow the public to provide evidence to the inquiry.
“The objective of the enquiry is to assess the charges contained in the motion in order to determine whether advocate Mkhwebane is incompetent and/or has misconducted herself and report to the NA [National Assembly] on its findings and recommendations,” read a statement from Parliament, which was released on Friday evening.
Written notification of the intention to provide evidence should reach the committee by 23 May and should advise it whether its assistance in making a statement under oath or handing over evidence would be required.
It should also include the person or organisation’s full contact details.
Any person or organisation that wishes to furnish evidence should do so in writing and under sworn oath or affirmation by no later than 12:00 on 3 June 2022.
The notice and evidence must be furnished by email to the committee secretary, Thembinkosi Ngoma, at tngoma@parliament.gov.za (contactable on 083 709 8407); or delivered in hard copy by prior arrangement with the committee secretary.