Parliament has moved a step closer to discussing the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) call for an inquiry into Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s fitness for office.
The portfolio committee on justice decided on Tuesday to refer the matter back to Speaker Thandi Modise.
The committee wants Modise to request the rules committee to formulate specific rules for the removal of heads of Chapter 9 institutions.
Currently, these rules are not in place. This prompted Mkhwebane to threaten legal action against Parliament recently should an inquiry go ahead.
Modise however did not take kindly to Mkhwebane’s threat, TimesLIVE reported.
She insisted that Parliament has the right to formulate rules if they do not exist.
She further criticised the “tone” Mkhwebane used in her letter to Parliament.
Once the specific rules have been set, the justice committee would then be able to initiate an inquiry into Mkhwebane.
DA welcomes decision
The DA has welcomed Tuesday’s decision.
DA chief whip John Steenhuisen hoped that Parliament is “approaching the matter with the care and attention it deserves.”