Public Protector is dancing to Zuma’s tune

It seems that the Public Protector, Adv. Busisiwe Mkhwebane, is dancing to Jacob Zuma’s tune and acting on his behalf to undo the valuable work done by her predecessor, Adv Thuli Madonsela.

Mkhwebane has laid criminal charges against Madonsela in relation to the release of a recording that exposed Zuma’s repeated lies about not being given an opportunity to respond to allegations of state capture against him.

While Zuma has every right to lodge a grievance with the PP, it is telling that Ms Mkhwebane jumped straight to criminal charges, without conducting any further investigation.

Zuma is also perfectly capable of laying a criminal charge against Madaonsela if he feels aggrieved and should not rely on Mkhwebane to do so.

That she did so speaks to a general attitude and pre-disposition to protect and act in the interest of Zuma, and not in the interests of the people of South Africa.

This latest action only adds to an ever increasing list of worrying acts, including changing all the locks at the PP offices and redeploying staff who worked closely with Madonsela, to undermine and expunge the work of the former PP.

The DA did not support the appointment of Mkhwebane for numerous reasons, one being that she has always been employed in and around government and indicated that she wants to have a more “friendly relationship with government”. We are now seeing he consequences of her appointment.

The capture of vital state institutions has become an ever present reality in South Africa. Only the Office to the PP and the Judiciary have remained relatively unblemished by capture.

It now seems that the PP is well on her way to acting in favour of the politically compromised and elite.

Statement issued by Adv Glynnis Breytenbach MP, DA Shadow Minister of Justice, 27 November 2016