EFF welcomes the new Members of Parliament

20 October 2023

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) welcomes its newly sworn-in Members of Parliament, former Public Protector fighter Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane and the President of the Plaaslike Besorgde Inwoners/Local Concerned Citizens (PBI) fighter Virgil Gericke. The new members were sworn in at a ceremony facilitated by the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly today in Parliament.

Advocate Mkhwebane boasts a rich history in civil service, including key roles as a Senior Researcher for the SAHRC, Senior Investigator in the Office of the Public Protector, and Director in the Department of Home Affairs. Notably, she dedicated herself to the nation as the Public Protector from 2016 to 2023, earning three consecutive clean audits and issuing 412 investigation reports, of which a mere 17 were reviewed by the courts.

Advocate Mkhwebane holds B. Proc and LLB degrees from the University of Limpopo, 1989-1992. She also possesses a Diploma in Corporate Law as well as a Higher Diploma in Tax Law, both from the University of Johannesburg.

Advocate Mkhwebane was appointed as a Board member of the Refugee Relief Fund Board by the Minister of Social Development and has been active in international forums. She participated in UN High Commission for Refugees EXCOM meetings in Geneva, African Union meetings in Ethiopia, and represented South Africa at SADC Refugee Commissioners meetings.

Notably, during her time with the African Union, the AU Convention related to Displaced persons in Africa was adopted. In 2018, she became the First Vice President of the African Ombudsman and Mediators Association (AOMA) and later its President during its sixth General Assembly in Rwanda. She also chaired

the board of the Durban-based African Ombudsman Research Centre and is a board member of the International Ombudsman Institute in Vienna.

Fighter Gericke is a strong advocate with an ideological orientation rooted in the struggle for land and economic freedom. His activism, which dates back to the 1980s, saw him involved in anti-apartheid campaigns. He was at the forefront of the formation of Plaaslike Besorgde Inwoners/LocaI Concerned Citizens in Pacaltdorp, in George.

Through PBI, Fighter Gericke has advocated for service delivery amongst forgotten black communities. He boasts extensive training and experience in local government and was awarded the title of Alderman at the Garden Route District Municipality in 2021. He recently held the position of the Deputy Mayor of Knysna Local Municipal Council. Beyond his political contributions, he is an ordained pastor with a passion to serve the marginalised and vulnerable members of society.

The EFF considers the swearing-in of fighters Advocate Mkhwebane and Gericke as a historic occasion that will mark a growth in the democratic project of South Africa. The EFF is confident that both fighters will bring quality to its organisational and parliamentary work and ensure that they hold the government accountable for any corrupt and incompetent actions.

Issued by Sinawo Thambo, National Spokesperson, EFF, 20 October 2023