Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka and her impeached predecessor, Busisiwe Mkwebane, took each other on in Parliament earlier today.
Mkhwebane started by describing Gcaleka’s explanation to one of her questions as nonsensical.
She wanted to know about the security information pertaining to the current Chief Executive Officer in the Office of the Public Protector, Thandi Sibanyoni.
However, Gcaleka hit back by saying Mkhwebane should stop acting as if she is beyond reproach because she happens to be a Member of Parliament now.
“Before I do that, my address cannot be alluded to as nonsensical. Being a Member of Parliament does not give anyone unfettered powers to be disrespectful to the next person. I am the Public Protector and an office bearer and the office of the court being an admitted advocate. We owe one another mutual respect. It cannot be. Honourable Mkhwebane cannot do what she did during the induction of Parliamentarians to lead a disruption of the PPSA (Public Protector of South Africa) presentation led by myself.”
Mkhwebane in turn did not take kindly to Gcaleka referring to her as an impeached conflicted Member of Parliament.
“I do not think it’s proper for you to even allow this…I do not know to even name it. Because I am a Member of Parliament here. So, I don’t know why you allow her to just raise this nonsensical issue. So please chairperson I am a Member of Parliament here. If she can just answer the questions. I have been the Public Protector for those years. And things that were there are still operational hence I asked whether she has a vision which she will… they are still keeping on the things that have been operational. So, I don’t think it’s fair for you chairperson to allow this.”
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