Legal Practice Council seeks to have Mkhwebane struck off the roll of advocates
The Legal Practice Council of South Africa is seeking to have former Public Protector, Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane, struck off the roll of advocates in the country.
According to News24, the council has confirmed that it will be making a court application to that effect. Mkhwebane, who was removed from office following impeachment, is now a leader of the MK Party in Mpumalanga, her home province.
Mkhwebane’s tenure as Public Protector ended controversially in September 2023 when she became the first head of a Chapter 9 institution in South Africa to be removed through impeachment. Following her impeachment, she served as a Member of the National Assembly from October 2023 to October 2024, representing the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
In late 2024, Mkhwebane joined the MK Party, a political organization associated with former President Jacob Zuma, as the Provincial Convenor for Mpumalanga. Her appointment was contested, leading to divisions within the party as rival factions, led by Mkhwebane and businesswoman Mary Phadi, both claimed leadership of the province.
The LPC’s move to have Mkhwebane struck off the roll of advocates is not unprecedented. In July 2019, a complaint was lodged against her, alleging dishonesty under oath. Subsequently, in March 2020, the Gauteng Division of the High Court in Pretoria dismissed an application seeking a declaratory order that Mkhwebane was unfit to hold office.
These developments highlight ongoing legal and political challenges surrounding Mkhwebane’s career, reflecting broader divisions within South Africa’s political landscape.