Mkhwebane agrees to meet DA to discuss a number of pressing issues

The Democratic Alliance (DA) says it is pleased that public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane has agreed to meet the party for a formal meeting to discuss a number of pressing matters linked to her office.

DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach said in a statement on Wednesday the party intended to engage the public protector on a number of probes and ongoing investigations following complaints by the DA over the past 12 months.

Breytenbach said, among other matters, DA leader Mmusi Maimane will be raising the following issues:

• Why she has not yet released the report into the Vrede Dairy Farm in Free State, which has been sitting on her desk for almost six months;
• whether Mkhwebane has ever met with any members of the Gupta family, in any capacity whatsoever, and if so, what circumstances necessitated such a meeting;
• the latest developments with regards to the new “preliminary investigation” into state capture, which was announced on 15 June 2017. The investigation aims to determine the merits of several allegations of corruption and unlawful enrichment emanating from the infamous Gupta leaks.

“We look forward to engaging the public protector on the above matters and trust that she will make available all necessary information,” Breytenbach said.

Last month, Mkhwebane said she intended to sue Breytenbach and DA MP Werner Horn for alleged defamation after they claimed in September last year she was a spy for the State Security Agency. The DA said it welcomed the opportunity to speak about the public protector’s background and her capacity to do her job properly.

“The role of the public protector is integral to the proper functioning of our democracy, and now more than ever, we desperately need a public protector who is wholly committed to fighting for the people of South Africa – by tackling State Capture and corruption in all its forms,” Breytenbach added.

The meeting has been set down for Monday, 13 November, 2017.

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