The Western Cape High Court has dismissed with costs suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s application to have the chairperson of Parliament’s Section 194 Committee recused from chairing her impeachment hearing.
Section 194 Inquiry
Mkhwebane had approached the high court to set aside committee chairperson Qubudile Dyantyi’s decision not to recuse himself from the inquiry as well as Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Kevin Mileham.
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Mkhwebane claimed that Dyantyi had been biased against her and Mileham was conflicted from taking part in the proceedings because his wife, DA MP Natasha Mazzone, had brought the motion for the inquiry to be established into her fitness to hold office.
However, the full bench of the high court dismissed her application, finding that she had “not shown the existence of grave injustice or that any harm which have been suffered by her will be material and irreversible if the committee is permitted to proceed with its task”.
The high court issued a punitive costs order against the suspended public protector. However, she must pay Dyantyi and the DA’s legal costs.
This is a developing story. More to follow.
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