MK party rallies behind Mkhwebane, slams ‘persecution’ ahead of court showdown
· Citizen
The MK party has thrown its weight behind former Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane, calling her treatment “persecution” and urging supporters to rally as she returns to court.
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Mkhwebane is expected to appear in the Pretoria Regional Court on Monday, 24 August 2026 at 8am.
LPC
Last month, the Legal Practice Council launched an application seeking an order to have Mkhwebane struck from the roll of advocates on 18 separate grounds, including allegations of dishonesty, incompetence, and bias.
LPC director Ignatius Briel argued that Mkhwebane is not a fit and proper person to remain an advocate based on parliamentary findings.
Legal proceedings
MK party spokesperson Sifiso Mahlangu said the party firmly supports Mkhwebane as she continues to face legal proceedings arising from her work as the Public Protector.
“During her tenure as the Public Protector, Adv. Mkhwebane brought allegations of corruption and illicit conduct to the public’s attention, yet rather than being commended for her efforts to expose unlawful activities involving Absa Bank, she was subjected to intense scrutiny, criticism, and persecution
“Her treatment, in this framing, raises serious questions about the consequences faced by those who attempt to expose wrongdoing by powerful institutions,” Mahlangu said.
Mkhwebane’s commitment
Mahlangu added that regardless of the outcome of the proceedings, Mkhwebane’s commitment to upholding the law and pursuing matters in the public interest “must not be taken lightly.”
“We call on the courts to uphold due process, fairness, and the equal application of the law, and reaffirm our support for Adv. Mkhwebane in her pursuit of justice.”
Impeachment
A former EFF MP and current MK party representative, Mkhwebane was removed from her position as head of South Africa’s watchdog body after a Section 194 inquiry found her to be biased, dishonest, and lacking basic legal comprehension in multiple high-profile investigations and court cases.
It marked the end of a turbulent era after marathon sittings spanning months of deliberations by a Section 194 inquiry and oral testimonies from 25 witnesses, coming at a cost of R160 million to the taxpayer.