President Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane with immediate effect.
The news was delivered via a statement on Thursday, 9 June. The statement claimed Mkhwebane’s suspension was “in accordance with section 194 (3)(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.”
“Section 194(3) (a) of the Constitution provides that the President may suspend the Public Protector (or any member of a Chapter 9 institution) “at any time after the start of proceedings by a committee of the National Assembly for [their] removal,” the statement continued.
According to the statement, Mkhwebane had been afforded sufficient time and opportunities to make submissions.
“In considering each element of the Public Protector’s submissions carefully, the President has taken into account the nature of the Public Protector’s office and his own Constitutional obligations. The absence of Advocate Mkhwebane from office will therefore not impede the progress of any investigations that are pending or underway.”
According to IOL, the suspension comes a day after Mkhwebane confirmed she had received a complaint lodged in terms of the Executive Members’ Ethics Act No. 82 of 1998 (EMEA) against the President for not adhering to the Executive Code of Ethics.
Ramaphosa has been embroiled in a scandal which has rocked the country. It’s alleged the President had concealed the theft of four million dollars which was hid on the President’s Phala Phala farm in Limpopo.
The Public Protector’s office has confirmed that they will be launching an investigation into the 2020 theft, as per EWN.
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Picture: Cape {town} Etc Gallery