BARNEY MTHOMBOTHI: We need to protect the public from this Public Protector
'Mkhwebane is no public protector. She's a danger to the public. She should be given her marching orders'
EXTRACT
She's been a disaster from the beginning. Despite having limped into the job, she exhibited supreme arrogance. The first victims of her vanity were the parliamentarians who had given her the job. She had hardly settled in when she was asked to appear before the ad hoc committee set up to conduct an inquiry of the shambles at the SABC. Madonsela had produced a report on the rot at the broadcaster and Mkhwebane was required to elaborate. No, she couldn't come, she told the members. She could get her staff to brief them in camera, if they wished. She was biting the hand that feeds her; the MPs were none too pleased.
It's been proved beyond doubt that Busisiwe Mkhwebane is a poor replacement for Thuli Madonsela as public protector. For a position that required absolute integrity, she was given the job despite her background shrouded in secrecy. The DA refused to support her appointment, citing claims that she was a spy. She denies the allegation and intends to take the party to court. Questions have also been asked about her academic qualification.Madonsela was always going to be a hard act to follow. She conducted herself with absolute probity — a stickler for rules and due process — and performed her duties without fear, favour or prejudice, as per the command of her office. She had no axe to grind. Even those at the receiving end of her adverse findings could not fault her motives. Which was why some resorted to character assassination. Despite the vilification, she emerged unscathed and with her reputation enhanced. For a long time, Madonsela was the only ray of hope amid the gloom visited o...
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