By: ANG Reporter
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s “reckless” move to suspend Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane – a day before the Western Cape High Court is expected to deliver judgment on whether he has the power to suspend her, was triggered by a letter she sent the president in which she demanded answers into the robbery at his Limpopo farm during which millions of dollars were stolen.
Last Thursday Ramaphosa suspended Mkhwebane from office with “immediate effect”, citing fulfilment of “his obligations”.
However, the decision was condemned by several political parties who accused Ramaphosa of acting recklessly by preempting the outcome of the Western Cape High court which was to rule a day later on whether Ramaphosa had the power to suspend Mkhwebane.
In a statement, the Presidency said Mkhwebane would remain suspended until the section 194 process in the National Assembly has been completed.
Africa News Global has seen a letter of Mkhwebane addressed to Ramaphosa in which she notified him that she had been asked by Vuyo Zungula, president of the African Transformation Movement (ATM) to probe him (Ramaphosa), for possible violation of the Executive Ethics Code, relating to the 2020 theft of millions of dollars at his Phala Phala farm in Limpopo.
In her letter, Mkhwebane asked Ramaphosa to among others to provide clarity on whether “the said premises or the property at Phala Phala farm in Waterberg, Limpopo belong to you or is registered under your name or under the name of any of your company where you own a stake”.
“Kindly explain whether there was any cash to the tune of millions of US dollars, (in excess of four million US dollars) stashed within your premises at Phala Phala farm in Waterberg, Limpopo and if yes, please clarify the following:
(a) The source of such cash,
(b) Any register, receipt, or other proof to indicate the source of such cash, the nature of the trade transaction from which it emanated or the purpose of such cash;
(c) The name of the countries and persons you were trading with and who paid the money in this regard.”
Mkhwebane also asked Ramaphosa to provide the dates on which he received the cash “and the name of the person(s) who received it, and the exact manner in which this cash was kept or stored at Phala Phala farm in Waterberg e.g. safe or furniture”.
Mkhwebane also wanted Ramaphosa to answer whether the cash was declared to South African Revenue Services (SARS).
Instead of receiving acknowledgment of receipt of her letter, or answers to her questions, Mkhwebane was suspended by Ramaphosa, barely hours after he had received her letter.
Mkhwebane’s non-renewable term was due to end in October 2023 and she had indicated her willingness to serve out her contract.
After news broke of her suspension, she tweeted: “Exodus 14:14 The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest.”
Meanwhile, Zungula has written to the acting public Kholeka Gcaleka to indicate within 48 hours whether the people being investigated in the Phala Phala robbery have responded to the letters written to them by the Office of the Public Protector.
