By: Natasha Archary
Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane will consult with her lawyers on Friday after President Ramaphosa expressed his intention to suspend her.
The president notified the public protector via a letter that under Section 194(3)(a) of the Constitution, the National Assembly Committee will continue with its impeachment process against her.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, informed the President of the decision against Mkhwebane.
Section 194(3)(a) of the Constitution states that the president may suspend a Public Protector, Auditor-General or a member of a commission established in terms of Chapter 9.
In a letter to the Public Protector dated 17 March 2022, President Ramaphosa says that in light of the resolution of the Committee:
“It would therefore now be appropriate to consider whether or not you ought to be suspended pending finalisation of the Committee’s work.
“I therefore hereby ask you to provide me with reasons why I should not exercise my powers in terms of Section 194(3)(a) of the Constitution in writing, within 10 working days of the date of this letter.”
Ramaphosa gave the Public Preotector 10 days to explain why she should not be suspended
PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA REQUESTS PUBLIC PROTECTOR FOR REASONS NOT TO SUSPEND HER
— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) March 18, 2022
President Cyril Ramaphosa has asked Public Protector Adv Busisiwe Mkhwebane to provide him with reasons why he should not suspend her in terms of Section 194(3)(a) of the Constitution.
Earlier this month the Public Protector appealed to the ConCourt to rescind its judgement against her.
However, the court ruled that her application be dismissed as no case has been made for the rescission.
Mkhwebane stands accused of lying under oath about deliberately change the law to find Ramaphosa guilty in the CR17 report.
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