By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa ) affiliate Public Servants Association (PSA) has welcomed the suspension of Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane, accusing her of purging employees.
President Cyril Ramaphosa suspended Mkhwebane from office on Thursday,
PSA alleged that Mkhwebane hired external lawyers for disciplinary hearings, ignoring seasoned labour relations officials paid to do the job.
“The PSA’s main bone of contention has been her treatment of employees. The Public Protector harassed and purged PSA shop stewards by subjecting them to dubious disciplinary hearings.
“She instructed external lawyers to confiscate laptops of investigators without them being provided with security clearance, compromising the work of the office of the Public Protector. She further appointed tainted senior staff who were dismissed from government departments owing to their indiscretion and misconduct.”
The union called on acting Public Protector, Mkhwebane’s deputy Kholeka Gcaleka to “pursue labour peace and create a conducive environment” for employees.
The ill-treatment of employees, victimisation and suppressing of different views must be a thing of the past. The PSA is prepared to work with her to restore the image of the office to allow for the execution of its constitutional mandate.
“The PSA remains adamant that advocate Mkhwebane was not fit to run the Office. The PSA reiterates the call that her removal from the office must be expedited as she remains a stumbling block for in the way of restoring the integrity of this critical institution.”
On Friday, the Western Cape High Court dismissed an application by Mkhwebane to interdict parliament from continuing its impeachment process against her — the latest in a series of failed lawsuits she has filed to stymie her removal.
A parliamentary committee decided in March to proceed with a motion to impeach Mkhwebane on grounds of incapacity and misconduct. Under the South African constitution, the president can suspend the public protector “at any time after the start of proceedings by a committee of the National Assembly”for their removal, the presidency said in a statement.
Mkhwebane will remain suspended until the parliamentary process is complete, and her absence from office will “not impede the progress of any investigations that are pending or underway,” the presidency said. Ramaphosa’s actions were in line with his obligation “to act in the best interest of the country, in compliance with the constitution,” it said.
Mkhwebane responded to her suspension by tweeting a Biblical passage and using the hashtag #farmgate in reference to the probe into the robbery at Ramaphosa’s farm.
The National Prosecuting Authority hasn’t decided whether to pursue the charges against the president, which were filed by the nation’s former spy chief, Arthur Fraser.