Public Protector faces harsh criticism in Parliament over dairy farm debacle
Busisiwe Mkhwebane is tacitly accused of either ignoring or deliberately excluding the rightful beneficiaries of the Vrede dairy farm project
Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane came under heavy criticism from MPs in the justice committee on Tuesday for her handling of the investigation into the Vrede dairy farm, with parliamentarians questioning why she had not interviewed the failed project’s beneficiaries and whether she could be trusted as the custodian of the Executive Members Ethics Act. The tense meeting was also attended by supporters of the Black First Land First (BLF) party, who committee chairman Mathole Motshekga instructed to lower their banners failing which they would be asked to leave the meeting. They opted to leave. Mkhwebane released the 65-page report in February. Its stated remedial actions that, among others, Free State premier Ace Magashule, who is also ANC general secretary, institute disciplinary action against officials implicated in Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) breaches, have raised concerns about conflicts of interest. The DA and the Council for the Advancement of the South African Cons...
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