The Western Cape High Court sitting in Cape Town will hear an urgent application that the Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane has brought, to prevent Parliament from starting the impeachment process to remove her.
Both President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Speaker of the National Assembly Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula are the respondents in the court case.
SABC News Bulelani Phillip reports:
Mkhwebane wants the court to prevent Ramaphosa from suspending her, pending the envisaged court outcome following her decision to challenge the impeachment process.
The Public Protector also wants the National Assembly not to proceed with the process to remove her while she is still challenging the matter in court.
If the majority of National Assembly members vote to remove her, she will be the first Public Protector to be removed in this manner.
The video below is reporting on the Public Protector’s fight against the impeachment:
‘No need to rush impeachment process’
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) says there is no need for the National Assembly to rush the impeachment process of Mkhwabane.
The party says the National Assembly should follow the rules contained in Section 89 of the Constitution.
The UDM is the 10th respondent to have filed an affidavit in the matter between Mkhwebane, National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, and President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Both the UDM and the African Transformation Movement (ATM) are backing Mkhwebane against her removal from office.
UDM leader Bantu Holomisa says Mkhwebane’s impeachment process should be stalled pending the outcome of her rescission application in the Constitutional Court.
In the video below, political parties react to Mkhwebane’s impeachment process:
SACP welcomes decision to proceed with impeachment
Meanwhile, in March, the South African Communist Party (SACP) applauded Parliament’s decision to pursue impeachment proceedings against Public Protector. SACP’s First Deputy General Secretary, Solly Mapaila said they are happy with Parliament’s decision.
The SACP position followed a decision by the Constitutional Court – which paved the way for Parliament to proceed with its inquiry into Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office.
