The High Court in Pretoria setting aside the report on Bankorp by the Public Protector (PP), Busisiwe Mkhwebane, is a serious blot on the name of the PP’s office as well as a clear abuse of power.
The judgment, which also ordered Mkhwebane to pay the legal costs of Absa and the South African Reserve Bank, could possibly pave the way for her dismissal.
In a controversial report, Mkhwebane found that the Reserve Bank’s bailout of R1.25 billion to Bankorp more than 20 years ago was illegal and that the money had to be repaid.
In comparison to the high standards set by the previous PP, the PP’s office is now clearly struggling to maintain those standards under the lead of Mkhwebane. Recently, her report on the Estina dairy farm was also met with disapproval as it did not make mention of the fact that ANC politicians were also involved in the irregularities.
In light of the undertaking by the new State President, Cyril Ramaphosa, to establish a clean and expert administration for our country, it may happen that the Ramaphosa-broom will also want to sweep out the PP’s office as part of its clean up.
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