Dyanti is creating confusion in public: Mkhwebane

Suspended Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, has rejected claims that she has missed the Section 194 Inquiry deadline.

She says the Committee that’s looking into her matter knows that she does not have a senior counsel to assist her to respond to the questions submitted by MPs.

Mkhwebane says Dyanti is portraying her as a person who doesn’t comply to deadlines.

She says there was no way for her to answer the almost a 1 000 questions within 10 days.

“We’ve requested PPSA to give my attorney approval to brief counsel only on the issue of Mr Dyantyi recusal of Mr Dyantyi who is conflicted; who is facing allegations of corruption and bribery. A case has been opened and further as alleged by the late Tina Joemat-Petterson.

We have indicated to the chairperson that we are willing to bring the application, which will be submitted in due course and my husband Mr Skosana will be testifying physically so that this allegations and the wrong narration that is here say because he was present and he opened a criminal case. I am not refusing to answer, the issue is I don’t have a senior counsel to help me to respond to the allegation and to the questions. In SA, you must have an attorney who understands the issue before you can brief counsel.”

“I have indicated that I refuse and reject the amended directives of me appearing or not appearing physically and presenting my evidence orally. I rejected that with my letter rejecting that on a letter written on the 9th of June.”

On Friday, the section 194 inquiry committee announced that the suspended Public Protector missed another deadline as it investigates her fitness for office

Mkhwebane had until the 6th of July to respond to more than 600 written questions that were sent to her by the committee.

Chairperson of the Committee, Qhubudile Dyanti, has expressed his disappointment in the Public Protector failure to respond to the questions.

“It is unfortunate that the PP has decided to disregard this important process by not responding to the questions and thereby disrespecting the committee process.”

This is not the first time Mkhwebane missed her deadline.

“Mkhwebane was due to notify the committee by Monday, 19 June 2023 whether she would be responding to questions in writing or orally. Adv Mkhwebane was granted another opportunity, until 22 June, to submit any additional affidavits or documentation in support of Part B of her statement,” says Dyanti.

Dyanti says the committee will continue with its programme.

“Our focus will now turn to the next few steps that are remaining before we table the report to the National Assembly, namely – there will be from the 7th to the 12th of July 2023 the time set aside to prepare written closing arguments. Two – from the 20th of July 2023, the evidence leaders have been directed to do summation of the evidence; three – from the 20th of July to the 26th of July 2023, this will be time dedicated for report writing period.”

He says on the 28th of this month, the committee will sit and deliberate on the draft report which will then be shared with the suspended Public Protector for her final comment.