ConCourt rules Mkhwebane did not have power to probe CR17 campaign
The scope of powers afforded to Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane have once again come under the spotlight.
The Constitutional Court on Thursday found that the Public Protector did not have the scope to investigate the President Cyril Ramaphosa’s so-called CR17 campaign.
"Both the constitution and the Public Protector Act do not empower the public protector to investigate private affairs of political parties,” Justice Chris Jafta said in a majority ruling by the apex court on Thursday.
READ: ConCourt dismisses Mkhwebane findings against Ramaphosa CR17 campaign
"Political parties do not perform a public function or exercise a public power when they conduct internal elections. Theirs is a private affair and not a state affair.”
Jafta delivered a ruling on the case relating to a R500 000 donation by facilities management company Bosasa to the campaign.
Mkhwebane found that President Cyril Ramaphosa misled Parliament about the donations.
Jafta earlier said that they found Mkhwebane was wrong in her findings that Ramaphosa misled Parliament about donations made towards his campaign for the leadership of the ANC.
