PRETORIA- Public Protector Busisiwe Mhkwebane has apologized to MPs of the Portfolio Committee on Justice for missing the scheduled meeting of last weeks.
MPs were left angered by Mkhwebane requested for a 11 hour postponement of the scheduled meeting, which was intended to discuss her office rules on appointing a special advisor.
She said she had to attend a “family emergency”.
She had not sent a delegation in her place which angered MPs even more such as the Deputy Public Protector Kevin Malunga.
Malunga and Mkhwebane both appeared at the committee on Wednesday.
The Public Protector said, “I would like to again apologise for not being able to make it on June 6,”
“I’ve tried my best to attend [today], because we already made the arrangements, and our documents have been sent to the Speaker’s office.
“I couldn’t send my deputy as I thought the issues, especially on the rules and policies of the office, required my special attention.”
Mkhwebane referred to a letter she sent to the head of the committee on May 18 that explained why she did not shift some of the responsibilities to Malunga.
She added, “For me, that responsibility was not delegated to the deputy Public Protector, so I wanted to come myself. It would have also appeared as if I was not taking the committee seriously.”
Committee head Mathole Matshekga acknowledged she received the letter but was only made aware of it on Tuesday, three weeks after the letter was sent. He accepted the reasons and said the committee should move on and accept the apology.
But MPs were still not happy and still felt disrespected.
MPs said they too wanted to see the contents of the letter, so that they too could move on.
Photo Credit- EWN
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