'Millions upon millions wasted': Public Protector details how Mkhwebane bled the coffers dry

Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka says her ousted predecessor Busisiwe Mkhwebane's demand for a R10 million gratuity "completely ignores the financial wreckage" she caused to the watchdog body – including a staggering R147 million spent on defending indefensible reports.

In an affidavit filed in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, Gcaleka said Mkhwebane left the Public Protector South Africa (PPSA) "in financial dire straits" after she was removed for misconduct and incompetence, following a Section 194 inquiry that was initially supposed to cost the PPSA R4 million, but later saw Mkhwebane's lawyers being paid more than R32 million.

The DA's Annelie Lotriet told the National Assembly during the debate on Mkhwebane's removal that the then Public Protector's conduct in the Section 194 inquiry into her fitness to hold office had amounted to "a reckless abuse of taxpayers' money".