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South Africa's anti-graft chief Busisiwe Mkwebane 'lied under oath' South Africa's anti-corruption chief Busisiwe Mkhwebane lied under oath
(about 1 hour later)
South Africa's highest court has ruled that the public protector - the state official in charge of investigating corruption - had lied under oath and acted in bad faith. South Africa's highest court has ruled that a top state official charged with investigating corruption lied under oath and acted in bad faith.
The devastating judgement will add weight to claims that Busisiwe Mkwebane is involved in a dirty-tricks campaign to undermine President Cyril Ramaphosa and halt his campaign against high-level corruption, says the BBC's Andrew Harding in Johannesburg. It upheld a court ruling from last year that Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane had acted in bad faith while investigating a bank bailout.
Last week, Ms Mkwebane ruled that Mr Ramaphosa had misled parliament and should be investigated. It is the latest controversy to hit Busisiwe Mkhwebane.
Her critics say she is being used by supporters of former President Jacob Zuma, who is fighting corruption allegations himself. She has been accused of undermining President Cyril Ramaphosa's war against high-level corruption.
Ms Mkwebane says her work is being done according to the law and the constitution. Her critics say she is being used by supporters of former President Jacob Zuma, who is facing corruption charges.
Many of Ms Mkhwebane's recent reports have become swamped by scandal - and led to claims that she is siding with Mr Zuma's faction within the governing African National Congress (ANC), our reporter says. Last week, Ms Mkhwebane ruled that Mr Ramaphosa had misled parliament over a campaign donation and should be investigated, following a complaint from the Democratic Alliance opposition party.
Mr Ramaphosa replaced Mr Zuma as party leader last year after the then-president had become embroiled in numerous corruption scandals. Mr Ramaphosa said on Sunday he would be mounting a legal challenge. He denied the allegations, saying her findings were "fundamentally and irretrievably flawed".
Mr Ramaphosa said on Sunday that he would be mounting a legal challenge against the public protector's report that concluded he had deliberately misled parliament over a campaign donation for May's election. Ms Mkhwebane has defended her work, saying it is being done according to the law and the constitution.
He denied the allegations, saying the report was "fundamentally and irretrievably flawed". Many of Ms Mkhwebane's recent reports have become swamped by scandal and led to claims she is siding with Mr Zuma's faction within the governing African National Congress (ANC), says the BBC's Andrew Harding in Johannesburg.
The courts have overruled Ms Mkhwebane on several occasions recently. Mr Ramaphosa replaced Mr Zuma as party leader last year after the then-president became embroiled in numerous corruption scandals.
In the latest ruling, the Constitutional Court fined Ms Mkwebane £50,000 ($62,000) in legal fees from her own pocket in a dispute between her office and South Africa's Reserve Bank. The courts overruled Ms Mkhwebane on several occasions recently.
Ms Mkhwebane has previously denied any wrongdoing. Why was she convicted of lying under oath?
The Constitutional Court upheld a High Court ruling that ordered Ms Mkhwebane to pay $62,000 (£50,000) in legal fees in a dispute between her office and South Africa's Reserve Bank.
Ms Mkhwebane previously denied any wrongdoing.
Reacting to the judgement on Monday, she noted that the court had not been unanimous, our reporter says.Reacting to the judgement on Monday, she noted that the court had not been unanimous, our reporter says.
A fight to restore public protector's integrity The devastating judgement by the Constitutional Court will, however, add weight to claims that Ms Mkhwebane is involved in a dirty tricks campaign to undermine President Ramaphosa and halt his campaign against high-level corruption, our reporter says.
Busisiwe Mkwebane was backed for the public protector's job by an overwhelming 263 MPs during a debate in the 400-member parliament. A fight to restore the public protector's integrity
She has only been in the job for less than three years but has already faced; two attempts to remove her from office, accusations of political bias, and the most scathing of all, a reprimand from the constitutional court. Busisiwe Mkhwebane was backed for the public protector's job by an overwhelming 263 MPs during a debate in the 400-member parliament.
Another accusation that she is a spy and a loyalist of former President Jacob Zuma, are not dissimilar to those levelled against her predecessor, Thuli Madonsela, who was accused by allies of Mr Zuma of working for US spy agency CIA. She has only been in the job for less than three years but has already faced two attempts to remove her from office, accusations of political bias and, most scathing of all, a reprimand from the Constitutional Court.
Accusations that she is a spy and Zuma loyalist are not dissimilar to those levelled against her predecessor, Thuli Madonsela, who was accused by allies of Mr Zuma of working for the CIA.
These claims have not been substantiated.These claims have not been substantiated.
Ms Mkwebane is not one to shy away from a fight, she is also not one to accept defeat, not even from the highest court, it seems. Ms Mkhwebane is not one to shy away from a fight. She is also not one to accept defeat, not even from the highest court, it seems.
She is determined to clear her name and hopefully restore the public's faith in her as their protector. She is determined to clear her name and restore the public's faith in her as their protector.