Witness in public protector hearing asks chair to be ‘more in control’

Legal services officer at the Public Protector’s office, Thembinkosi Muntu Sithole, asked Section 194 impeachment inquiry chairperson Qubudile Dyantyi to take more control over how witnesses are handled.

‘I felt like I was being managed’

Sithole frequently butted heads with evidence leader Advocate Nazreen Bawa during his testimony. At one point Sithole said he felt that he was the subject of the impeachment hearings instead of Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane. 

Sithole, who has since been dismissed by Dyantyi, in his closing remarks at the hearing, said he felt as though he ‘was being managed’.

He also complained that he was asked to recall information about the documentation that was not placed before the committee.

“I put my head on the block, I even admitted when there was any wrongdoing, and to be dealt with in the manner that I was. Chair, you need to be more in control of the witnesses,” said Sithole.

But Bawa said she’d only asked Sithole about information that he had put before the committee. She also reminded Dyantyi that she was there to ‘get the truth’.

Mpofu takes swipe at Dyantyi

Advocate Dali Mpofu, who is representing Mkhwebane, said he shares the Sithole’s disappointment – while taking a swipe at Dyantyi.

“Chair you didn’t spend six years in law school like Bawa and I.”

Dali Mpofu

The Section 194 hearing into Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office heard on Thursday that the public protector’s office had racked up some R147 million on legal fees between 2015/16 and 2022 – while the now suspended Mkhwebane was in office.

ALSO READ: R140 million in legal fees spent on defending Mkhwebane over 5 years

However, there are additional legal expenses that still need to be verified, meaning that the multi-million legal bill may still increase.

The committee has since moved on to the next witness.

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