'Public Protector 'overstepped' her mandate with Zille colonial tweet finding'

DA MP John Steenhuisen has accused Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane of “overstepping” her mandate in her finding that Western Cape Premier Helen Zille's controversial tweet about colonialism to have violated her executive ethics code.

“She is walking back to the situation where her competence to serve will be questioned‚” Steenhuisen said on Radio 702 on Tuesday.

On Monday‚ Mkhwebane directed the speaker of the Western Cape legislature to take action to hold Zille to account within 30 days.

Zille had on July 7 2017 tweeted: “For those claiming legacy of colonialism was ONLY negative‚ think of our independent judiciary‚ transport‚ infrastructure‚ piped water etc.”

Mkhwebane launched the investigation after a complaint was laid by Western Cape ANC MPL K Magaxa.