By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The section 194 committee will summon former public protector Thuli Madonsela to testify at the inquiry into the fitness to hold office of her successor Busisiwe Mkhwebane.
During Tuesday’s deliberations, the committee’s chairperson Qubudile Dyantyi confirmed that parliament’s legal team will issue a summons to Madonsela to testify.
The name of former public protector Thuli Madonsela is, therefore, agreed that it must be interacted with in a form of a subpoena,” he said.
Dyantyi explained that the committee was of the view that Madonsela could “add value” to their work since the former public protector “handled some of the investigations that constitute the subject matter of the motion” before the inquiry.
A summons will also be issued for Bianca Mvuyana, an investigator at the Public Protector’s office to testify at the inquiry.
Mkhwebane had further filed at least five applications to the committee to summon Acting Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan and Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Natasha Mazzone.
However, they have all declined to testify.
The committee also reaffirmed its decision not to call President Cyril Ramaphosa to appear before the inquiry.
“This issue with regards to calling Ramaphosa to appear before this committee as witness, we dealt with the matter several times. We exhausted it so let’s not resuscitate it.
The committee has already heard testimonies from Mkhwebane’s two witnesses including Mulao Lamula, who works at the Public Protector’s Western Cape office, and Freddie Nyathela, who is the president of the South African Roadies Association (Sara).
Mkhwebane’s third witness, Zambian Public Protector Caroline Zulu-Sokoni, could not give her oral evidence on 5 December 2022 because she had to get permission from authorities in Zambia first considering her official position.
According to Parliament’s draft programme, the committee aims to complete its work by April. The committee has set itself a timeline of drafting a report by March.