The unfounded criticism and racist remarks by the former Public Protector (PP), Adv Busisiwe Mkhwebane, concerning Members of Parliament, among others, are shockingly inappropriate and the FF Plus sent a letter to Parliament’s Speaker, Ms Thoko Didiza, insisting that steps be taken.
Mkhwebane was removed from her office earlier this year through a parliamentary section-194 process and currently serves as an EFF Member of Parliament (MP). Her tirade on X stems from her suspension following the process.
It is mainly aimed at people of Indian descent – from the SCA Judge Visvanathan Ponnan who presided over her failed application to appeal her dismissal to parliamentary officials who were involved in the parliamentary process.
In its letter to the Speaker, the FF Plus states, among other things:
“In addition to levelling allegations against the presiding Judge in the appeal case and the Evidence Leader, Adv Nazreen Bawa, she (Mkhwebane) specifically casts aspersions on senior parliamentary personnel, such as the Chief Legal Advisor, Adv Zuraya Adikharie, and the Legal Advisor, Adv Fatima Ebrahim. She accuses them of bias and unprofessional conduct.
“It not only discredits the integrity of the people in question, but also of the parliamentary processes as well as of Parliament itself, while she is a member of the institution.
“My FF Plus colleague, Dr Corné Mulder, and I served on the section-194 Committee, and I can attest to the fact that the conduct of all parliamentary personnel involved in the proceedings was always highly professional.
“I, therefore, request that you refer this matter to the Powers and Privileges of Parliament Committee in terms of rule 214(1) of the National Assembly (NA).”
The FF Plus strongly believes that racism and discrimination have no place in a free and democratic society, and it should not be tolerated, least of all by Parliament.