Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s impeachment process could take 7 months to complete

The impeachment process against Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane could take seven months, according to Parliament’s schedule.

This was revealed during the National Assembly’s Programme Committee meeting on Thursday.

“The aim of the committee [on Section 194 Inquiry] is to finalize its work on the 21st of September [this year],” Parliament’s unit manager, advocate Mongana Tau, said during the virtual meeting.

The matter comes two days after the Ad Hoc Committee on the Section 194 Inquiry decided it would proceed with the impeachment process against Mkhwebane.

Section 194 of the Constitution deals with the removal of a head of a Chapter 9 institution.

Parliament’s legal services on Tuesday told the MPs on the Section 194 committee that “there was no legal obligation” preventing them from continuing with their work.

This follows a Constitutional Court (ConCourt) ruling, which gave the green-light for the committee to proceed with the impeachment.

The ConCourt delivered its ruling earlier this month after the judgment was reserved in November last year.

Rescission
While Mkhwebane will be allowed legal representation when the hearings take place, the public protector has since made a last-ditch effort to prevent her impeachment from proceeding.

Mkhwebane’s legal team this week signalled her intention to launch a rescission application against the ConCourt judgment.

In a letter sent to Parliament, Mkhwebane said she wants the impeachment process against her suspended until the rescission is finalized.

Despite the application, the committee will forge ahead with its work which will take seven months.

In other news – Things you probably didn’t know about Riky Rick

Mzansi award-winning South African rapper and hip-hop artist Rikhado Muziwendlovu Makhado, popularly known as Riky Rick, passed away on the morning of Wednesday 23 February.

The family of rapper Riky Rick confirmed that he passed on following the rumours circulating on Twitter. A source told a local publication that the 34-year-old rapper was found by his management team at about 08:30. Learn More