Section 194 inquiry looms for Commission for Gender Equality boss Mbuyiselo Botha
The National Assembly is expected to consider an independent panel’s recommendation that Botha face removal from the CGE, after derogatory remarks about a fellow commissioner’s albinism during a virtual meeting.
Mbuyiselo Botha, Commissioner for Gender and Equality addressing SAPS at a #Men4Change conference. Picture: X/@SAPoliceService
CAPE TOWN - Parliament is gearing up to start yet another Section 194 inquiry, less than a year after removing Busisiwe Mkhwebane as Public Protector through the same process.
But this time, Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) commissioner Mbuyiselo Botha faces removal for derogatory remarks about a fellow commissioner’s albinism during a virtual meeting.
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The National Assembly is now expected to consider an independent panel’s recommendation that Botha face removal from the CGE, a Chapter 9 institution.
This week, the independent panel of experts handed over its report on its findings against Botha.
He was suspended in 2021 after allegedly breaching the commissioners’ confidentiality code and code of conduct.
A complaint was also lodged with Parliament, triggering the process to investigate Botha’s conduct.
The chairperson of the independent panel, advocate William Mokhare, said Botha failed to act in good faith when he made offensive remarks, unaware that he was not muted during the virtual meeting.
"In these, it is alleged that in a plenary meeting held by the member of CGE, he made certain utterances which were derogatory and defamatory against fellow commissioners."
Botha will now face a full-on Section 194 inquiry before its findings go to President Cyril Ramaphosa to decide on Botha's removal.