BOKAMOSO
This week, the DA took the decision to motivate for the removal of Busisiwe Mkhwebane as Public Protector. We believe this is in the best interests of the people of South Africa who, more than ever before in our democracy, need protection from a highly corrupt state. Sadly, Mkhwebane has chosen to side with, rather than fight, corruption.
On Monday, the South African Reserve Bank filed an affidavit revealing that Mkhwebane conspired with the Presidency and the State Security Agency (SSA) to achieve a Constitutional amendment to the mandate of the Reserve Bank. The Constitution envisages an independent Reserve Bank mandated to protect the value of the currency. Mkhwebane and her Zupta co-conspirators would apparently prefer a State Bank able to print money.
This attack on the Reserve Bank’s independence may be in retaliation for the Bank’s role in the closure of Zupta bank accounts. Ostensibly, it is to enable the bank to achieve “socio-economic transformation”, but more likely, it is to fund various nefarious Zupta activities. Whatever the reason, it is clear that Mkhwebane has an ulterior motive. And it is clear she is not acting independently.
In the Nkandla judgement, the Constitutional Court went to great pains to establish the central role of the Public Protector in strengthening our constitutional democracy. The Public Protector’s role is to counterbalance the power of the executive; to stand with the people when the government turns on them and abuses its considerable power.