President Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane from the office of the Public Protector effective 9 June 2022.
Section 194(3) (a) of the Constitution provides that the President may suspend the Public Protector (or any member of a Chapter 9 institution) “at any time after the start of proceedings by a committee of the National Assembly for [their] removal”.
Advocate Mkhwebane will remain suspended until the process in the National Assembly has been completed.
President Ramaphosa has fulfilled his obligation to provide Advocate Mkhwebane a fair hearing by according her sufficient time and opportunity to make submissions.
The Deputy Public Protector will now take over the duties and therefore it will not impede the progress of any investigations that are pending or underway.
President Ramaphosa and Advocate Mkhwebane are both obligated to act in the best interest of the country, in compliance with the Constitution and mindful of the need to protect all Constitutional institutions.
