South Africa: suspension of "madam anti-corruption" by President Ramaphosa

South African President Cyril Rampahosa.

AP - Themba Hadebe

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

This is a new episode in the fight against corruption: the head of state suspended the mediator of the Republic on Thursday evening.

She was responsible for monitoring the actions of the executive and the proper use of public money.

Her dismissal caused a stir, as she had just launched an investigation into President Cyril Ramaphosa.

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Busisiwe Mkhwebane has been suspended with immediate effect until Parliament, which has opened impeachment proceedings against her, decides.

This is a very controversial figure: appointed by former President Jacob Zuma, she is accused of having been placed in this position to protect him

against the accusations of corruption to which he is subject

.

The ex-mediator is accused of bias, investigating minor cases and ignoring big cases concerning the former president.

She is also accused of incompetence.

Finally, a complaint for perjury was filed against her.

If his suspension is not a surprise, that for several years that the opposition, part of the majority, civil society demanded his departure, the timing makes you cringe.

Because she had just announced the opening of a new investigation targeting the current head of state Cyril Ramaphosa.

In recent years, she has multiplied the investigations targeting him.

His suspension Thursday evening, although expected, therefore makes his supporters say that Cyril Ramaphosa has things to blame himself for and seeks to get rid of them.

We must look at this suspension in a broader context:

the showdown between current President Cyril Ramaphosa and his rival Jacob Zuma

, caught up in corruption cases.

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  • South Africa

  • Cyril Ramaphosa