A summary of the presentation by Public Protector Adv. Kholeka Gcaleka during an induction event of Members of Parliament by Institutions Supporting Democracy (IDS) in Cape Town this evening.

The Gauteng North High Court has set aside with costs and declared as "irregular and non-compliant with the Uniform Rules of Court", an amended notice of motion and supplementary affidavit filed by former Public Protector, Adv Busisiwe Mkhwebane, regarding her gratuity claim. The Court also ruled as "misplaced", Adv Mkhwebane's contention that rule 53(4) cloths an applicant with the right to introduce new causes of action and material wholly unrelated to the grounds of review.

THREAD: The High Court in Pretoria today heard the Minister of Finance’s application for a declaration that the remedial action in the PP's reports 18 and 15 of 2011/12 and 2016/17, respectively, was discharged or that the reports be reviewed or set aside. The PP argued that the Minister’s application was perempted in that his conduct from 2002 to 2012 was inconsistent with his intention to challenge in any way the remedial action in report 18 of 2011/12. Instead, he showed intention to abide by the remedial action.

THREAD: With the PP’s help, a Northern Cape widow has successfully clawed-back R262 000 in spousal pension benefits, which she had lost to another woman who claimed to have been married—under customary law—to the widow’s deceased civil servant husband. She approached the PP in 2016, alleging that the Government Pension Administration Agency (GPAA) short-changed her when it paid her a once-off gratuity of R117 709, which amounted to half the pension benefits she should have received after her husband’s passing.

THREAD: The Gauteng Division of the High Court in Pretoria will on Tuesday, March 10, 2020, at 10H00, hand down judgment on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s application to have the findings and remedial action of PP @AdvBMkhwebane in the Bosasa donation matter reviewed and set aside. The full bench of the court led by Judge President Dunstan Mlambo heard arguments on the matter last month, 6 months after Judge Peter Mabuse granted the President an urgent interdict to have the implementation of PP’s remedial action stayed pending the outcome of the review.

THREAD: Earlier today the High Court in Pretoria heard arguments between the PP and SARS on whether the revenue collector is permitted and required to withhold taxpayer information from the PP and whether her subpoena powers extend to taxpayer information. This comes after the PP unsuccessfully subpoenaed former President Jacob Zuma's tax information from SARS as part of her investigation of allegations that Mr. Zuma received monthly payments of R1m from a Durban-based security company while he was President.

[TUNE IN] PP ⁦@AdvBMkhwebane⁩ is a guest of ⁦@AldrinSampear⁩ on ⁦@Powerfm987⁩’s #POWERTalk this morning at 10:00. PP: I knew what I was getting myself into when I accepted this position.The person who nominated me said I have the capability. My mother was initially not supportiveShe was worried that I’d be under pressure, that people would swear at me, given how some treated my predecessor.

THREAD: We are in the Pretoria High Court this week where Judge Phillip Coppin is hearing an application by the Institute for Accountability in Southern Africa (IASA) that @AdvBMkhwebane should be declared unfit and proper person to hold office or that she abused her office. Apart from the office of the PP and @AdvBMkhwebane, the respondents are the President, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Chair of the Portfolio Committee on Justice and the EFF, which will make arguments while the rest have opted to abide by the court’s decision.

Public Protector @AdvBMkhwebane is this morning scheduled to address the 7th @unisa Annual Spring Law Conference in Muldersdrift

https://twitter.com/publicprotector/status/1173588842072498176

PP @AdvBMkhwebane currently addressing @Unisa Annual Spring Law Conference

PP @AdvBMkhwebane currently addressing BLA Student Chapter at Unisa PP: Let me express a word of gratitude to the Student Chapter of the Black Lawyers Association here at UNISA for putting issues affecting women high up on the agenda when there are many other issues of a legal nature that could have been discussed.

PP @AdvBMkhwebane currently addressing SA Sheriff Society event in Mpumalanga PP: Thanks to SASS for extending an invite to my office

THREAD: PP @AdvBMkhwebane has found as irregular the City of Tshwane's appointment of former senior executives, Ms. Marietha Aucamp, Mr. Samkelo Mgobozi & Mr. Stephane Adriaan de Villiers in that the trio had not met the minimum requirements for their respective positions. The findings follow a complaint by the leader of the opposition in the City Council, Cllr. Mapiti Matsena, who had leveled allegations of maladministration, abuse of power, fraud, irregular appoints and corruption against the City and former Executive Mayor, Mr. Solly Msimanga.

Thread: Public Protector Adv. Busisiwe Mkhwebane addressing the media Adv. Mkhwebane: I have called this briefing to bring to the attention of the people of SA the challenges my office goes through when it seeks to do what the constitution expects us to do