Busisiwe Mkhwebane could’ve used EFF as ‘halfway station’ – analyst

An independent political analyst said former public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane may have used the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) as a “halfway station” to her next political home.

The impeached former public protector resigned from the EFF on Wednesday morning.

She handed her resignation letter to EFF leader Julius Malema and the party’s top six, a year after she joined the red berets

In the letter, Mkhwebane spoke about focussing on spending time with her family and thanked the EFF for “extending a helping hand” to her.

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‘Not EFF DNA, they are Zuma supporters’

Political analyst Sandile Swana told The Citizen that Mkhwebane’s resignation may be a positive development for the party.

“The EFF is now better placed actually to clarify its own value proposition, unique value proposition to South Africa as a whole and not be confused with any other political party, be it Cope [Congress of the People], be it anything else, because it has the potential to be a unique political party in South Africa.”

He explained there were politicians who had joined the party, but did not seem a good fit.

“When the occasion came, it became clear that their political DNA is not EFF DNA, they are Zuma supporters. I think the one who clarified that better than anyone else was actually Mzwanele Manyi,” Swana said.

“So there’s a sense in which the EFF became a halfway station for certain people who were disgruntled within the ANC. And then when the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party came, their true colours emerged. So some of them, such as Mkhwebane especially, were actually a distraction.”

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Mkhwebane’s next political home  

Several members, including Manyi and former deputy president Floyd Shivambu among others, left the EFF to join the MK party. There was speculation that Mkhwebane could follow.

While she did not respond to The Citizen‘s request for comment on whether she would be joining the MK party, Swana said this may be likely.

“Her political posture is far much more consistent with Zuma than with the EFF. That is my view.”

Swana added that Mkhwebane is likely to play a role in “Zuma-type politics”.

“My reading of the game is that the type of politics that she wants to play is there and I think Julius Malema and his leadership want a different brand, completely different and separate, including how people interface with the law.”

‘Personal issues’

Mkhwebane was impeached by the National Assembly just before her seven-year non-renewable term ended in September last year.

A Section 194 Committee recommended her impeachment after she was found guilty of misconduct and incompetence during her tenure.

Earlier this month, Mkhwebane was denied the R10-million gratuity payment which had been the subject of a fierce legal battle between her and her former office.

In her resignation letter, she lamented her removal as public protector and subsequent court battles.

“The past seven years have made me realise that our fight for freedom was in vain. There has never been a time when I felt my rights were violated as it has been done in the years I was the South African public protector.

“This continued even after I was unconstitutionally removed by Parliament and the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa,” Mkhwebane said.

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‘Positive contribution unclear’

Swana said these battles muddied her political impact, and her “unique positive contribution” to the EFF remains unclear.

“She was busy with all her personal problems and controversial issues and it’s difficult to pinpoint unique political contributions that she has made to the EFF that would have clarified the contribution of the EFF itself in the political landscape of South Africa, more especially 29 May 2024 elections,” Swana said.

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