Public Protector welcomes Chief Justice’s statement on Abramjee matter

Public Protector Adv. Busisiwe Mkhwebane welcomes the statement that Chief Justice Raymond Zondo made on SABC TV on Thursday, April 28, 2022 regarding a text message that was recently sent to the lead counsel of a party in her postponed application in the Western Cape High Court.

In an interview with the public broadcaster, Chief Justice Zondo said the issue of Mr Ismail Abramjee who sent the text message in question regarding a decision of the Constitutional Court which has yet to be announced is “unacceptable and is being investigated”.

Adv. Mkhwebane further welcomes the Constitutional Court’s response on Friday, April 29, 2022 to the letter sent to Chief Justice Zondo on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 on behalf of all the parties in the postponed application. In the response concerned, the apex court acknowledged receipt of the letter and confirmed that the matter is “currently being investigated”.

Adv. Mkhwebane is also seeking legal advice on the question of laying criminal charges against Mr Abramjee and his accomplices for the “confidential” message based on “very good authority” that an unusual decision has already been made to dismiss her rescission application without a hearing or even answering affidavits having been filed.

Once the outcome of Constitutional Court’s investigation has been released, Adv. Mkhwebane will await the directions of the Chief Justice in terms of the relevant Rules of the Constitutional Court.