Suspended Public Protector Busiswe Mkhwebane has written to President Cyril Ramaphosa demanding the immediate reversal of her suspension. Mkhwebane threatened to take court action if Ramaphosa did not revoke her suspension by close of business on Tuesday.
She sent a personally signed letter to Ramaphosa, where she attacks the merits of his decision to suspend her, saying his actions were a retaliation to the questions she had posed to him about the alleged robbery at his Phala Phala game farm.
Mkhwebane wrote: “I hereby remand that you reverse your decision to suspend me and indicate that you have done so by no later than 5pm on Tuesday, June 14 2022, failing which I will be left with no option but to refer the matter to the appropriate court as a matter of urgency without any further notice to you, to protect my constitutional rights which have been violated as a result of your conduct in unlawfully suspending me.”
Ramaphosa suspended Mkhwebane with immediate effect last week, pending the outcome of the impeachment process in parliament. The impeachment process is set to begin on 11 July 2022.
In the absence of Mkhwebane, Ramaphosa said Deputy Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka would step in and perform the duties of her senior and that “the absence of advocate Mkhwebane from the office will therefore not impede the progress of any investigations that are pending or under way”.
The next day after the announcement of her suspension, the Western Cape High Court dismissed Mkhwebane’s application to interdict Ramaphosa from suspending her on the grounds of conflict of interest.
Source: News24, City Press, Times Live, image from City Press