Cape Town — Former Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, hit back at the judiciary after the courts ruled that she would not receive a R10 million gratuity for her time as Public Protector.
Judge Ompehemetse Mooki ruled on Wednesday that Mkhwebane would not receive the R10 million gratuity as it was a token of appreciation shown by an employer towards an employee and was only granted when the employee vacated office, not someone who “left in disgrace.”
“It will be absurd to expect an employer to pay gratuity, a token of appreciation to an employee who left the office in disgrace” … The Judge is not Indian by the way …
Has anyone checked on Busisiwe Mkhwebane, how is she doing ? pic.twitter.com/UtqOgRSzlZ
— Tebza_FS🇿🇦🇵🇸 (@FsTebza) October 9, 2024
“The recent Ponan judgement by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in The Public Protector of South Africa v The Chairperson of the Section 194(1) Committee and Others has struck a disheartening chord with many who observe the legal landscapes and the intricate dance between law and justice. The case reflects a persistent pattern of legal proceedings that have seemingly been weaponized to financially burden and corner me, as the former Public Protector of South Africa,” she said.
She added that Mooki’s judgement was another chapter to the ongoing saga and said that it was made to look like “choreographed persecution”.
“These actions resonate eerily with Steve Biko’s sentiments about pushing the boundaries within an unsympathetic system to expose its flaws and limitations. The persistent use of the courts, not just as instruments of justice, but seemingly as tools of attrition against me, underlines a broader critical view of how such institutions may be leveraged against individuals,” she said.
She said those observing would question the integrity and impartiality of the legal process and the repeated pressures directed at her are a narrative where the system is put to the test.
“In this legal environment, it becomes crucial for advocates, observers, and critics alike to remain vigilant. They must question whether the courts are merely upholding the law or if they are being manipulated to serve as instruments of persecution against those who stand their ground against systemic pressures,” she concluded.
The recent Ponan judgement by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in The Public Protector of South Africa v The Chairperson of the Section 194(1) Committee and Others has struck a disheartening chord with many who observe the legal landscapes and the intricate dance between law and…
— Adv Busisiwe Mkhwebane (@AdvBMkhwebane) October 9, 2024
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
