Busi Mkhwebane quits EFF to 'rest', after earlier claiming she would ...
‘Today, I’m saying goodbye to you, Fighters,” advocate Mkhwebane said on Wednesday morning on X, marking her exit from the party that once rejected her nomination as Public Protector.
In August, she claimed the SABC had spread “fake news” about her leaving the EFF, saying: “I will never betray the fighters my political home.”
‼️‼️Media Alert: Rumours by SABC news about me leaving @EFFSouthAfrica are fake news.I will never betray the fighters my political home pic.twitter.com/1vTK87ZpoE
— Adv Busisiwe Mkhwebane (@AdvBMkhwebane) August 15, 2024
Now, on Wednesday via her X account and an appearance on the SMWX, she indicated she would resign “soon from the party”.
@EFFSouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/yysWrlQYlM
— Adv Busisiwe Mkhwebane (@AdvBMkhwebane) October 16, 2024
Her statement read: “After careful consideration and talking to my family, they advised and felt I needed to go away. Spend time with them, rest and continue to fight for the vulnerable where possible.”
Her husband, David Skosana, is an uMkhonto Wesizwe party MP. Last week, during a justice committee meeting in Parliament about the annual report of the Public Protector South Africa, Skosana and Mkhwebane caused an uproar over claims of threats against the current senior leadership of that office.
Read more: Gcaleka vs Mkhwebane — Public Protector clashes with impeached predecessor over ‘disrespect’, ‘threats’
Read more: MK Party Skosana’s latest ‘Cyber bully’ revelation against Public Protector CEO calls for sanction
She wrote on Wednesday: “In my time of need, you Fighters extended a helping hand, becoming a refuge for me over the past 12 months.”
Mkhwebane had thus submitted a letter of resignation as an MP to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Parliamentary spokesperson Moloto Mothapo confirmed to Daily Maverick on Wednesday.
Mkhwebane became the first Public Protector to be impeached in September 2023, following a protracted inquiry into her fitness to hold office. Exactly a year ago – on 16 October 2023 – she joined the EFF, and was soon sworn in as an MP – serving on the Justice and Correctional Services oversight committee – the same one that oversees the Public Protector’s office.
A request by Daily Maverick for a response from Mkhwebane was not immediately forthcoming. DM
This is a developing story.
