South Africa: Fresh calls for Parliament to remove Public Protector

28 Septembre 2017

CAPE  TOWN,  South Africa, September 28 (Infosplusgabon)  - Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba and the official opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) on Thursday sharply criticised Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane who has been linked to the State Capture scandal which has shaken the Zuma administration.

Gigaba accused the public protector of having made “haphazard” conclusions in her report into a bailout granted by the Reserve Bank to Bankorp. The Reserve Bank‚ ABSA Bank‚ Parliament and Gigaba have challenged her findings.

In her report‚ Mkhwebane said the government and the Reserve Bank had not protected the public interest when it bailed out Bankorp between 1985 and 1995.

Mkhwebane who replaced the highly-respected Thuli Madonsela has made some extremely controversial statements, including calls for the restructuring of the mandate of the Reserve Bank which shook the markets.

The DA has asked Parliament to initiate proceedings for the removal of the Mkhwebane, saying:  “South Africa can no longer be subjected to a Public Protector who has proved repeatedly that she clearly has no grasp of her mandate.”

“Mkhwebane has also failed to exercise impartiality in her role as Public Protector. This is an inexcusable shortcoming for someone who holds such an important post,” said DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach.

The mandate of the Public Protector is to strengthen constitutional democracy by investigating and redressing improper and prejudicial conduct, maladministration and abuse of power in state affairs.

FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/IIO/GABON 2017

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