Busisiwe Mkhwebane

South Africa: anti-corruption agency chief suspended

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended with immediate effect the head of the country’s anti-corruption agency, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, accused of political bias.

In 2019, the country’s highest court ruled that Ms Mkhwebane lied under oath and had acted in bad faith while carrying out some of her investigations.

A number of her major investigations have in the past been overruled by the courts, raising questions about her fitness to hold office.

Ms Mkhwebane was appointed as the country’s corruption watchdog boss in 2016.

A statement released by Mr Ramaphosa’s spokesperson states that the absence of Busisiwe Mkhwebane from office would not “impede the progress of any investigations that are pending or underway” and that she would be suspended until an impeachment process had been completed by parliament.

The hearings are expected to start next month.

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