“I, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, solemnly declare that I will abide by the aims, objectives, and radical policies of Economic Freedom Fighters as set out in the constitution of the EFF.”
With those words, the former public protector, Mkhwebane, took her membership of the red berets, marking a new chapter in her life as a politician after a tumultuous seven years in office.
The welcome event took place in her hometown of Kwaggafontein in Mpumalanga and was presided over by EFF provincial chairperson Collen Sedibe.
Sunday World understands that from Kwaggafontein, Mkhwebane is headed to Cape Town, where she is due to take up a seat in parliament as an EFF MP.
Mkhwebane said the EFF was her first political home, adding that she was never a member of any political party in the past, including the governing ANC.
She said she joined the party to learn and to continue to protect vulnerable South Africans.
“I’ll be learning the ropes from my colleagues, fellow commissars, and fighters so that we can continue to protect the poor and the marginalised,” she said.
“I joined the EFF because our people are landless, and the EFF is saying, go make sure that we expropriate the land without compensation.
“I could relate to that, and as a public protector, I always said I would protect the poor and the marginalised. This is really an opportunity to continue to do that.”
Mkwhebane said she was not joining the EFF for a position but to serve, as per the EFF’s declaration.
I was dealt with harshly by the ANC
“I was dealt with harshly by the ANC and the DA, and at the end of the day, I could stand this treatment to expose them.”
She said she was therefore joining the EFF to ensure that all people, especially the poor, were treated fairly and equally.
Mkhwebane’s term as public protector officially ended this past week.
In September, the ANC-dominated National Assembly voted in support of the DA-sponsored motion to remove her from office on the grounds of misconduct and incompetence.
In her defence, she alleged that her removal from office was political because her office dared to investigate powerful political players including President Cyril Ramaphosa, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, and Absa’s R1.2-billion debt to the Reserve Bank that the ANC government seeks to write off.
