THE ANCWL WELCOMES THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ENDORSEMENT OF ADVOCATE BUSISIWE MKHWEBANE FOR HER TO BE APPOINTED AS THE PUBLIC PROTECTOR

7 September 2016

The African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL) commends the Public Protector Adhoc committe under the leadership of Chairperson Honourable Dr Makhosi Khoza for their sterling and transparent work done on from the nomination process, interviews to the final recommendation of Public Protector candidate to the National Assembly for endorsement.

The ANCWL welcomes the National Assembly's endorsement of Adv. Busisiwe Mkhwebane for her to be appointed as the Public Protector. Adv. Mkhwebane has a B Proc, LLB, Master of Business Leadership Corporate Law and Tax Law diploma's. Amongst others, Adv. Mkhwebane has served the Department of Home Affairs as Director and Acting Chief Director, Immigration Counsellor at the South Africa Embassy in China, Senior Investigator at the office of the Public Protector and as a Senior Researcher at the South African Human Rights Commission.(SAHRC)

As the ANCWL we are not surprised by the DA’s malicious and defamatory allegations against Adv. Mkhwebane, including the allegation that she was previously involved in some illegal spying operations. It is evident that the DA is not concerned with the capacity of the candidate to serve as the Public Protector but they would rather prefer a person who can be co-opted and influenced not to investigate any case against their members.

The DA is looking for a person who cannot be apolitical and are desperately looking for a mouth-piece to discredit the work of the ANC led government.The allegations by DA are nothing but their strategy to discredit any black person as they did previosly when Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng and the outgoing Public Protector Adv. Thuli Madonsela were appointed. 

The Public Protector is one of the several institutions established by Chapter 9 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa to support and strengthen our constitutional democracy post'94. Before 1994 this institutions were non-existent and it was through the ANC led government that they were established. 

The expectations of the ANCWL towards Adv. Mkhwebane is for her to exercise her powers and perform duties without fear, favour or prejudice and be impartial as guided by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa when appointed.

Statement issued by Meokgo Matuba, ANCWL Secretary General, 7 September 2016