Suspended public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane had massively reduced backlogs, secured an “unprecedented” three consecutive clean audits, improved service delivery and brought strong women leadership into the office, her advocate, Dali Mpofu, said on Wednesday.
In cross-examining provincial investigation and integration executive Nelisiwe Thejane during the parliamentary impeachment hearings, Mpofu said these achievements had “come at a cost”.
“To get these outcomes you have to crack the whip sometimes,” Mpofu said.
Referring to Thejane’s allegations that she, and others, had been victims of Mkhwebane’s policies of “victimisation, harassment and intimidation”, he said she was now the 15th witness trotted out at the hearing complaining about how she ran her office.
It was “disturbing”, Mpofu said.
“She never came and beat people ... or was drunk. All these problems were because she was driving performance,” he said.
Thejane conceded that, on paper, Mkhwebane had done a good job and her aim was improving performance. But she said it was not what Mkhwebane was doing, it was “how she was doing it ... it was what she says and how she says it ... her actions”.
“There must be a limit, there must be fairness,” she told the inquiry. “I don’t believe she is a victim,” she said when Mpofu said Mkhwebane also was under pressure to deliver.
“The issue is she viewed justified reasons (for missing deadlines) as illegitimate excuses and that consequence management was the only approach.”
The inquiry has heard that Mkhwebane was ruthless about deadlines and would not tolerate excuses. She adopted a punitive stance — instilling a general culture of fear — and missed deadlines would result in the errant employee being given an “audit” — a notice of possible disciplinary action.
TimesLIVE
Support independent journalism by subscribing to the Sunday Times. Just R20 for the first month.
Mkhwebane had to crack the whip to deliver excellent results, argues Mpofu
Image: Gallo Images
Suspended public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane had massively reduced backlogs, secured an “unprecedented” three consecutive clean audits, improved service delivery and brought strong women leadership into the office, her advocate, Dali Mpofu, said on Wednesday.
In cross-examining provincial investigation and integration executive Nelisiwe Thejane during the parliamentary impeachment hearings, Mpofu said these achievements had “come at a cost”.
“To get these outcomes you have to crack the whip sometimes,” Mpofu said.
Referring to Thejane’s allegations that she, and others, had been victims of Mkhwebane’s policies of “victimisation, harassment and intimidation”, he said she was now the 15th witness trotted out at the hearing complaining about how she ran her office.
It was “disturbing”, Mpofu said.
“She never came and beat people ... or was drunk. All these problems were because she was driving performance,” he said.
Thejane conceded that, on paper, Mkhwebane had done a good job and her aim was improving performance. But she said it was not what Mkhwebane was doing, it was “how she was doing it ... it was what she says and how she says it ... her actions”.
“There must be a limit, there must be fairness,” she told the inquiry. “I don’t believe she is a victim,” she said when Mpofu said Mkhwebane also was under pressure to deliver.
“The issue is she viewed justified reasons (for missing deadlines) as illegitimate excuses and that consequence management was the only approach.”
The inquiry has heard that Mkhwebane was ruthless about deadlines and would not tolerate excuses. She adopted a punitive stance — instilling a general culture of fear — and missed deadlines would result in the errant employee being given an “audit” — a notice of possible disciplinary action.
TimesLIVE
Support independent journalism by subscribing to the Sunday Times. Just R20 for the first month.
READ MORE:
Mkhwebane can stay on in luxury estate if she pays her own R11k rent
Thejane is a disgruntled employee, says Mkhwebane’s counsel
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
News and promos in your inbox
subscribeMost read
Latest Videos