Public Protector notes Section 194 Committee decision

The Public Protector notes with regret the decision of the Parliamentary Section 194 Committee to commence the impeachment enquiry in July 2022.

The Public Protector is on record that any lawful enquiry should proceed as a soon as possible. She is confident that no legitimate enquiry will find her guilty of the charges brought by the Democratic Alliance.

However, the decision to start an enquiry in the present atmosphere, which is littered with allegations of conflicts of interest, illegality and even alleged corruption and other criminal conduct, is totally unacceptable.

The outcome of Chief Justice Raymond Zondo’s investigation into allegations of corruption implicating Mr Ismail Abramjee and one or more persons within the Constitutional Court, which will have a huge bearing on all the related processes, should be awaited by all reasonable people and institutions. No legitimate court or parliamentary step ought to be taken until the outcome of the pending investigation is known.

The Public Protector will therefore leave no stone unturned in the quest for justice, the vindication of the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law. It is her duty to protect the public from alleged wrongdoing and/or criminality by any person or public institution even at the highest level of the state.