President Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane from the office of the Public Protector effective immediately.
In an issued statement on Thursday, the Presidency declared that: “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.
“Mkhwebane will remain suspended until the section 194 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,” reads the statement.
Impeachment hearings are due to get under way on July 11.
It explained that the Deputy Public Protector would continue her duties in her absence ensuring that the progress of any investigations that are pending or underway are not affected.
Mkhwebane had attempted to prevent her suspension. She was awaiting a pending judgment from the Western Cape High Court, where she urgently sought an interim interdict preventing her suspension.
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