“Obsessed” Mkhwebane targets Madonsela’s staff: report
Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane has fired her predecessor’s selected chief of staff – and reportedly threatened to pull support for a conference that wanted to invite and honour the work Thuli Madonsela did.
According to a report by the City Press, Mkhwebane this past week fired Madonsela’s former chief of staff, Bonginkosi Dhlamini, saying that his skills did not match the position.
The firing happened not long after Dhlamini challenged Mkhwebane over a matter regarding the African Ombudsman and Mediators’ Association (Aoma) conference which was held in South Africa in early November.
According to the paper, citing sources close to the conference, Mkhwebane threatened to have the conference banned from being held in South Africa if Madonsela was invited to it.
Madonsela was to be honoured at the event for her “outstanding and exemplary service” in office. However, the certificate was ultimately collected by her former deputy.
The source said that Madonsela was informed by her Aoma colleagues that Mkhwebane made the threats.
Emails sent to Mkhwebane by Dhlamini show that he challenged the Public Protector over the matter, saying he would take it up with Parliament. He also reportedly called her heartless, cruel and unreasonable, and said she was obsessed with Madonsela.
According to the City Press, Dhlamini and three others who worked in Madonsela’s private office were key players in the State Capture report. The paper reported that all involved have been moved to other departments.
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