Mkhwebane stumps justice portfolio committee with no-show

Parliament, the elected body representing Joe and Jane Public, which has sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution and is empowered by law to defend citizens, was stumped yet again as another bastion of public defence, public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane, failed to appear before the justice portfolio committee yesterday.

South Africa’s “defenders of the Constitution” appear to be a fragile lot, with excuses of illness and confusion over dates and who should appear when and about what apparently becoming more widespread.

Mkhwebane said in a statement yesterday she was given short notice for her appearance but had intended to go and even made travel arrangements.

It was the first time she had missed a committee meeting and she had been reluctant “to send a delegation of officials without executive authority”, she added.

Mkhwebane said she respected parliament and was aware that she was accountable to it.

On Tuesday, parliament said the portfolio committee on justice and correctional services would be briefed by the “Public Protector on the Public Protector Rules and Policy on the appointment of a Special Advisor to the Executive Authority”.

The committee would also have discussions on the request for an inquiry into the fitness of the public protector to hold office, it added, except of course expecting her to dig her own grave was perhaps a step too far for the beleaguered advocate.

Mkwebane had cited a “family emergency” in an e-mail sent at 5pm on Tuesday, long after parliament closed for the day. No details were given in the e-mail.

The Democratic Alliance, now in full “I told you so” mode leading up to the elections, had called for an inquiry into Mkwebane’s fitness to hold office of the treasured Chapter 9 institution that was given gravitas by former protector Thuli Madonsela.

The committee’s gnashing of its rubber teeth at Mkhwebane’s non-appearance – or that of anyone from the public protectors office – was a similar reaction to other committees over the failure of Dudu Myeni, Duduzane Zuma, the Gupta brothers, Malusi Gigaba, the entire Passenger Rail Agency of SA board, former mineral resources minister Mosebenzi Zwane, Bathabile Dlamini and others to appear before them.

Phrases such as “committee strongly condemns” and “disappointed by the conduct” jostled with headlines of “MPs angered … “ and “failure sparks formal inquiry”.

All of which seems to only encourage office bearers to rebuff parliament’s friendly advances to hoist themselves with their own petard.

Mkhwebane is expected to appear before parliament … sometime …

– amandaw@citizen.co.za

ALSO READ: Evidence presented that Mkhwebane protected ‘corrupt’ Ace and others

For more news your way, follow The Citizen on Facebook and Twitter.