Rule 23(2)(b) states: “Where a state institution receives correspondence from the PPSA, including a request for information in respect of investigations of alleged breaches of the Executive Code of Ethics, the institution concerned must submit a written reply or written substantive reply within 14 days, except where the public protector specifies otherwise.”
Rule 23(3) provides that: “Where the state institution has failed to submit a reply within the time frames ... the public protector may direct the state institution concerned to submit a substantive reply, which reply must be received not later than seven days from the date of the directive.”
PPSA invoked its subpoena powers according to the Public Protector Act, read with section 5 thereof.
Section 7(4)(a) provides that: “For the purposes of conducting an investigation the public protector may direct any person to submit an affidavit or affirmed declaration or to appear before him or her to give evidence or to provide any document in his or her possession or under his or her control which has a bearing on a matter being investigated, and may examine such person.”
Section 7(5) states: “A direction referred to in subsection (4)(a) shall be by way of a subpoena.”
He said the office reassures the public that the matter is ongoing “and that other investigative tools and methods are being employed to establish the veracity of the allegations that gave rise to the investigation.
“No further public comments pertaining to the matter will be made in an effort to protect the integrity of the investigation. This is because investigating such matters in the glare of the public carries with it the risk of jeopardising investigations.”
On June 7, Ramaphosa suspended public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane pending the findings of a parliamentary inquiry for misconduct.
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Public protector to invoke subpoena rights in Ramaphosa investigation
The office of the public protector (PPSA) announced on Tuesday it would be invoking its subpoena powers in an investigation into allegations of a violation of the Executive Ethics Code by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
In a statement PPSA spokesperson Oupa Segalwe said the announcement came after several media enquiries into the matter.
“We confirm that the president had until July 18 to respond to the allegations letter of June 7 after his previous request to have the initial return date of June 22 2022 extended. A request for a further extension has instead been filed.”
He said the request was denied and communicated to Ramaphosa on Monday.
This decision came from the PPSA amended rules of 2018 on the response protocols to the office.
Rule 23(2)(b) states: “Where a state institution receives correspondence from the PPSA, including a request for information in respect of investigations of alleged breaches of the Executive Code of Ethics, the institution concerned must submit a written reply or written substantive reply within 14 days, except where the public protector specifies otherwise.”
Rule 23(3) provides that: “Where the state institution has failed to submit a reply within the time frames ... the public protector may direct the state institution concerned to submit a substantive reply, which reply must be received not later than seven days from the date of the directive.”
PPSA invoked its subpoena powers according to the Public Protector Act, read with section 5 thereof.
Section 7(4)(a) provides that: “For the purposes of conducting an investigation the public protector may direct any person to submit an affidavit or affirmed declaration or to appear before him or her to give evidence or to provide any document in his or her possession or under his or her control which has a bearing on a matter being investigated, and may examine such person.”
Section 7(5) states: “A direction referred to in subsection (4)(a) shall be by way of a subpoena.”
He said the office reassures the public that the matter is ongoing “and that other investigative tools and methods are being employed to establish the veracity of the allegations that gave rise to the investigation.
“No further public comments pertaining to the matter will be made in an effort to protect the integrity of the investigation. This is because investigating such matters in the glare of the public carries with it the risk of jeopardising investigations.”
On June 7, Ramaphosa suspended public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane pending the findings of a parliamentary inquiry for misconduct.
TimesLIVE
Support independent journalism by subscribing to the Sunday Times. Just R20 for the first month.
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