Muntu Sithole News Today

While two of Busiswe Mkhwebane’s witnesses have told the Section 194 inquiry into her fitness to hold office that she never interfered with investigations, the evidence seems to indicate otherwise.

The Section 194 impeachment inquiry committee also learnt that advocate Dali Mpofu had earned about R12-million in his defence of various disastrous legal challenges that Mkhwebane has undertaken.

'Fugitive from justice' Paul Ngobeni, who invoiced the Public Protector's attorneys for hundreds of thousands of rands for 'legal opinions', now insists he worked as a 'legal and communications consultant' – and was never hired as an advocate.

Head of legal services, Muntu Sithole, continued his testimony on Friday morning, facing more questions about the Public Protector’s hefty legal bill.

Public Protector legal services manager Muntu Sithole signed off on an R87,000 invoice for US fugitive from justice Paul Ngobeni, which included R30,000 for two poison-pen articles critical of Cabinet ministers.

MPs have heard that she spent R146.9-million defending her reports, with a third going to an obscure law firm

During the Friday session of the parliamentary impeachment inquiry into suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane, the office’s legal services manager was cross-examined about consultancies, sign-offs and pitches – and ongoing revelations about legal fees.

The Section 194 committee is expected to hear more from the Public Protector’s head of legal services, Muntu Sithole.

Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s impeachment inquiry is before Parliament.

Mkhwebanes lawyer, Dali Mpofu said while complainants in the SARS matters have cried foul over being ignored during the Public Protectors investigations, former staff on the other hand have claimed they were victimised with so-called audi letters when they didnt perform.