Johannesburg - Further troubles are likely to pile up for Public Protector Busisiwe
Mkhwebane as more staff in her
office are willing to speak out on claims of victimisation.
This is according to Public
Servants Association (PSA) assistant general manager Reuben Maleka
in an interview with Independent Media yesterday.
The trade union on Thursday held a meeting with members at the public protector’s office in preparation for its submission to the parliamentary inquiry into Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office.
Maleka said they called the meeting to consolidate their plan and find out if there were members willing to voice their unhappiness or felt victimised.
“There are a few who came out and the rest did not want to be named as they wanted to be anonymous. They will be in contact with our senior counsel,” he said.
The meeting comes as gloves are off between PSA and the public protector’s office with the former’s members, some facing disciplinary measures, sending affidavits and asking Parliament to investigate Mkhwebane.
Mkhwebane has maintained that her staff were being used by external forces to remove her from her position.
Spokesperson Oupa Segalwe said Mkhwebane’s attention was on the work of resolving the thousands of complaints entrusted to her office by the public.
“Responding to everything that this or that staff member or the union does is a distraction,” Segalwe said.
“The bottom line is she has filed papers in court challenging the
constitutionality and lawfulness of the rules regulating her removal and
other Chapter Nine institutions heads from office.
“That is the focus,” he said.
Mkhwebane seeks to interdict National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise from taking any further steps in removing her from office.