By: ANG Reporter
President Cyril Ramaphosa, himself entangled in allegations of criminal conduct, has today suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane.
In a statement, the Presidency said Ramaphosa had “in accordance with section 194 (3)(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, decided to suspend Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane from the office of the Public Protector effective 9 June 2022”.
Mkhwebane’s suspension comes barely 24 hours after she announced she was probing Ramaphosa for allegedly breaching the executive code of ethics relating to criminal activities at his farm.
The complaint was received last Friday from Vuyo Zungula, an MP and president of the African Transformation Movement (ATM).
The complaint was made after former State Security Agency (SSA) director-general and former correctional services commissioner Arthur Fraser laid criminal charges against Ramaphosa. Fraser said the charges emanate from the theft of millions of US dollars concealed on the premises of Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in Waterberg, Limpopo, by criminals who were allegedly colluding with his domestic worker.
The Presidency said: “Section 194(3) (a) of the Constitution provides that the President may suspend the Public Protector (or any member of a Chapter 9 institution) “at any time after the start of proceedings by a committee of the National Assembly for [their] removal”.
“Advocate Mkhwebane will remain suspended until the section 194 process in the National Assembly has been completed.”
“President Ramaphosa has fulfilled his obligation to provide Advocate Mkhwebane a fair hearing by according her sufficient time and opportunity to make submissions.”
“In considering each element of the Public Protector’s submissions carefully, the President has taken into account the nature of the Public Protector’s office and his own Constitutional obligations.”
“Section 2A (7) of the Public Protector Act states that whenever the Public Protector is, for any reason unable to perform the functions of his or her office, or while the appointment of a person to the office of Public Protector is pending, the Deputy Public Protector shall perform such functions.”
PRESIDENT SUSPENDS PUBLIC PROTECTOR ADV MKHWEBANE
President @CyrilRamaphosa has in accordance with section 194 (3)(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, decided to suspend Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane from the office of the Public Protector effective 9 June 2022
— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) June 9, 2022
The Presidency said Mkhwebane ‘s absence from office “will therefore not impede the progress of any investigations that are pending or underway”.
