Committee for Section 194 notes Adv Mkhwebane fails to meet another due date
7 July 2023
The Chairperson of the Committee for Section 194 Enquiry into Public Protector (PP) Adv Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office has noted with grave concern that Adv Mkhwebane missed another important deadline yesterday – this time with her response to written questions posed by Members and evidence leaders.
This is not the first deadline missed by Adv Mkhwebane since the committee was forced to forge a new path after various challenges and delays arose in relation to the PP’s legal assistance, despite the fact that the PPSA made another R4 million available in additional funds and the PP was granted permissionto retain all three of her counsel at increased fees.
Committee Chairperson Mr Qubudile Dyantyi said Adv Mkhwebane was due to notify the committee by Monday, 19 June 2023 whether she would be responding to questions in writing or orally. Adv Mkhwebane was granted another opportunity, until 22 June, to submit any additional affidavits or documentation in support of Part B of her statement or in relation to the evidence leaders’ presentation to the committee on Part A of her statement to the extent that there is a part that was not addressed in her oral evidence or written statement. She did not meet the deadline of 19 June and did not submit any additional information for the committee’s consideration.
Mr Dyantyi further said on 25 June 2023 two sets of questions – one by Members of the committee and one by evidence leaders – were sent to Chaane Attorneys, Adv Mkhwebane’s attorneys of record. “The due date for responding to these questions was yesterday, 6 July 2023. It is unfortunate that the PP has decided to disregard this important process by not responding to the questions and thereby disrespecting the committee process as was agreed to by all participating Members on 9 June 2023.”