Advocate Dali Mpofu has withdrawn from representing suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane, in the section 194 committee looking into her fitness to hold office.
His withdrawal came after Mkhwebane’s postponement application was rejected by Section 194 committee chair Qubudile Dyantyi on Thursday.
Dyantyi said the adjournment application should not be granted. He argued that the committee had experienced too many stops and this
He said Mkhwebane’s accusation that the refusal of the adjournment application could only come from spite was “unfortunate and baseless.
Dyantyi told Mkhwebane’s legal team that the committee resolved to decline the adjournment decision. “We want to proceed with our work Dyantyi said.
“As I indicated earlier, the decision does not come as a surprise,” Mpofu said.
The advocate informed the committee that his mandate has come to an end and asked to be excused.
Mpofu told the committee that the legal team are not able to take further part in “any of the illegal activities” of the committee.
“Any event beyond the application, even breathing, would be the illegal activities of this committee. So, I am afraid, then as far as the legal team is concerned this is as far as the legal team can take it. And good luck, maybe we’ll see you again or maybe not.”
He added that Mkhwebane will “speak for herself” on whether she will continue to participate in the inquiry.
Mkhwebane was left to fend for herself, contrary to a ruling from the Constitutional Court that ordered that she be represented throughout the proceedings.
Mkhwebane said she hadn’t given a mandate to her legal team to leave the proceedings and asked the committee chair Dyantyi to be given a chance to consult with Mpofu and the team to try persuade them to return.
She said if that did not workout, she would have to find a new attorney to represent her.
“The didn’t even say they are terminating; I must find out from them. I don’t know why this came out the way it did,” she said.
Source: Sowetan Live, IOL, Eyewitness News, The Citizen, image from Twitter: @IsmailAbramjee