South Africa’s parliament has backed a request from the main opposition party to begin proceedings that could lead to the removal of the country’s top anti-corruption official amid criticism of her record in office. According to Reuters, Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane was appointed in 2016 after being plucked from relative obscurity by then-president Jacob Zuma. If successful, the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) bid to remove Mkhwebane would mark the first time the head of a state body tasked with defending democracy has been removed by parliament since the ruling African National Congress took power inu 1994. An independent panel will have 30 days to make a preliminary assessment of the DA request and make a recommendation on whether she should remain in office, parliament said in a statement. President Cyril Ramaphosa, Zuma’s successor, has also accused Mkhwebane of abusing her office after she said he was involved in serious misconduct linked to donations to his campaign for leadership of the ruling party.

Source: Nigerian Tribune January 26, 2020 17:48 UTC