Business Leadership SA's (BLSA) CEO has called for the removal of Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane, saying she uses her office for "political shenanigans", according to a report.
Speaking at Stellenbosch University's inaugural Social Justice Summit, CEO Busisiwe Mavuso accused Mkhwebane of political bias, according to Business Day.
Recently, the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria ordered Mkhwebane to pay costs in a case relating to her investigation of the multimillion-rand Estina dairy farm scandal.
The Constitutional Court has also labelled Mkhwebane as "dishonest".
Mavuso said the Office of the Public Protector was used to "derail the focus of this country on the things that we actually should be focusing on".
Business Day also quoted Mavuso as saying Ramaphosa "is not captured by business" and that the accusations against him have "everything to do with the fightback campaign that is happening in this country".
Meanwhile, Mkhwebane said on Thursday she has been on the defensive against unwarranted attacks since taking office in October 2016, News24 reported.
ATM comes out in support
While addressing the student chapter of the Black Lawyers Association at the University of South Africa, Mkhwebane said she believed she was under attack for daring to "touch those who are seen by some as paragons of virtue".
"Now there is a threat to remove me from office under the pretext that I am incompetent. The argument is that some of my reports have been set aside by the courts."
On Tuesday, News24 reported that on the same day that MPs decided to ask Parliament's rules committee to draft regulations for Mkhwebane's removal, the African Transformation Movement (ATM) announced it would attend a prayer service for Mkhwebane.
In a statement, the ATM said its president, Vuyo Zungula, would attend a mass prayer meeting at the KwaMhlanga showgrounds on Friday.
"It is our confident view that the Public Protector is fighting for the people of South Africa and will do whatever it takes to be the defender of the voiceless and poor.
"We admire her strength and conviction and urge her not to be shaken amid the negative press.
"The African Transformation Movement, in support of the Public Protector and representing the people of South Africa, calls for support of the Public Protector."
- Compiled by Jeanette Chabalala
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