Evidence leaders for Section 194 concludes taking Committee through documentary evidence

19 April 2023  

The Evidence Leaders for the Committee for Section 194 Enquiry into Public Protector (PP) Adv Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office yesterday wrapped up their task of contextualising the documentary evidence before the Committee by taking the Committee through various court judgements in a bid to assist members with their task of assessing the charges of misconduct and incompetence against the PP.

The committee was taken through evidence related to a charge of misconduct against the PP on her investigation into the South African Reserve Bank matter and subsequent failure by the South African Government to recover funds from ABSA Bank.

Evidence leaders also took the committee through evidence in relation to the misconduct charge on the part of the PP during her investigations into the Vrede Dairy Project in respect of which the motion alleges she narrowed the scope of the investigation.

The Committee also dealt with court judgements on the Pillay pension matter which included criticism of the PP’s findings on the qualifications of former South African Revenue Services deputy commissioner, Ivan Pillay.

In closing the session, the Chair of the Section 194 Inquiry Mr Qubudile Dyantyi said that the Committee will pause with its session of empowering members and when it meets again it will be to resume and conclude the enquiry. The date for resumptionis to be announced pending the ongoing fees issue which he said was receiving attention.

Mr Dyantyi continued by saying that the upcoming period for Parliament will be hectic but the committee will ask for permission and time to complete the section 194 enquiry. Members were requested to avail themselves to conclude the work of the committee.

The committee was established on 16 March 2021 to conduct a constitutional inquiry into the PP’s fitness to hold office and is now expected to conclude its work towards the end of May 2023. Committee documents can be found at Committee for Section 194 Enquiry - Parliament of South Africa

Issued by Jabulani Majozi, Media Officer, Parliamentary Communication Services, 19 April 2023