Last month, the Legal Practice Council launched an application seeking an order to have Mkhwebane struck from the roll of advocates.
The MK party has thrown its weight behind former Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane. Picture: Gallo Images
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.
Mkhwebane is expected to appear in the Pretoria Regional Court on Monday, 24 August 2026 at 8am.
Mkhwebane’s criminal case stems from allegations relating to her handling of the controversial Absa/Bankorp matter during her tenure as Public Protector.
Charges
Mkhwebane had been facing five charges, with four allegedly linked to the main perjury charge.
Accountability Now laid a criminal complaint of perjury against Mkhwebane with the Hawks.
This followed the Constitutional Court’s (ConCourt’s) ruling in July 2019 that upheld a Pretoria High Court judgment finding that the Public Protector was dishonest in affidavits she submitted to the High Court and the Pretoria Regional Court in 2017 and 2018 about meetings she had with Zuma.
The ConCourt also ordered that she personally cover 15% of the SARB’s legal costs in the case.
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.”
LPC
Last month, the Legal Practice Council launched an application at the Gauteng High Court 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, citing parliamentary findings that she is ‘not fit and proper’ to remain an advocate.
However, Mkhwebane vowed to fight back against the LPC’s bid to strike her from the roll of advocates, insisting she remains “fit and proper” to practise law.
“I can confirm that I received the papers. They were sent to the number, which I’m not using regularly through WhatsApp. And finally, I then referred the matter to Clientele Legal, because that’s the first legal representation, which I’ve approached to assist, and indeed, we filed the notice to oppose the matter, Mkhwebane said at the time.
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.
