BREAKING NEWS 🚨
State Withdraws Founding Perjury Charges Against Former Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane
In a major legal development, the State has withdrawn the founding and main charge of perjury against former South African Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane. Because the remaining four counts are directly linked to this primary allegation, the withdrawal effectively changes the entire complexion of the criminal case against her.
The long-running legal battle, which stems from her controversial 2017 investigation into the Absa/Bankorp matter, saw a dramatic shift during proceedings at the Pretoria Regional Court.
Supporters of Mkhwebane, including representatives from the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, maintain that the foundational evidence used to orchestrate the charges does not exist. Defence claims highlight that records and official security footage conclusively prove Mkhwebane was working from the Public Protector’s Cape Town office during the time of the alleged meetings she was accused of concealing. Furthermore, political allies point out that one of the critical, now-discredited witnesses was an active “CR17” political campaigner in the Tshwane region during the timeline of the initial accusations.
The perjury allegations have historically carried heavy consequences for Mkhwebane. They formed a core element of the Parliamentary Section 194 Committee inquiry that ultimately led to her impeachment and removal from office. Additionally, the case remains tied to an ongoing High Court application brought by the Legal Practice Council (LPC), which seeks to have her permanently stripped of her licence to practise law as an advocate.
Advocate Mkhwebane, who currently serves as the patron of the BM Foundation, has consistently maintained that the charges were a form of political persecution resulting from her high-profile state investigations.
While the withdrawal of the main count is a significant victory for her legal team, the broader implications regarding her status with the LPC continue to unfold in the high courts.