GARETH VAN ONSELEN: How Busisiwe Mkhwebane whitewashed the David Mahlobo report
The public protector’s Alice through the Looking Glass logic robs our democratic lexicon of its power and purpose
This week the public protector, advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane, released a final report clearing former state security minister David Mahlobo of having misled Parliament and of violating the Executive Members Ethics Code. The report is an indictment of Mkhwebane and her logic. On examination, it falls apart. Here is how. The complaint regarded two statements Mahlobo made. The first was a comment before the Institute of Security Studies (ISS) on November 14 2016, in response to a question about controversial student leader Mcebo Dlamini. He said then, of Dlamini’s arrest: "I don’t do the arrests. Mcebo was brought and arrested by the police; and I happen to know Mcebo. He has been to my house several times." The second was a comment he made in answer to a question, regarding his ISS remark, in Parliament two days later, on November 16, 2016. He said then: "The member speaks as a fact on a newspaper article without actually putting the facts to the nation; the meeting never took place. M...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.