South Africa’s Public Protector (PP) Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s suspension was not linked to her probe into allegations of money laundering against President Cyril Ramaphosa, the president has said.
According to Ramaphosa, the Ombudsman was given 10 days after he received a letter from parliament that an investigation into her suitability to hold office was going ahead to explain why she should not be suspended.
Speaking to reporters at parliament, the president said it was only once she had given these reasons that he made his final decision to suspend her.
However, this did not mean that the investigations could not continue when the Public Protector’s office was filled with other officers to probe the matter, he added.
“Once the PP is suspended, the work of that office does not come to an end. The Deputy Public Protector would be able to take the work forward guided by the principles of prejudice, no favour and impartiality,” Ramaphosa said.
He added: “So if those are the principles that guide anyone in that office, then we should not be concerned about who does the work.”
The president said Mkhwebane would remain suspended until the impeachment process in Parliament, which starts on 11 July, has been completed.
NM/jn/APA