This isn’t a good look for Busisiwe Mkhwebane. The Public Protector has been blasted for inviting “rogue figures” to her 50th birthday bash – some of whom are under investigation from her office.

Public Protector parties with potential prosecution targets

The jaw-dropping guestlist for the swanky soiree is a real who’s-who of state capture suspects. Bongani Bongo – the former minister of security – was in attendance, alongside the disgraced ex-NPA chief Nomgcobo Jiba. However, it’s the appearance of Mosebenzi Zwane which has raised the most eyebrows:

Mosebenzi Zwane snapped at Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s birthday party – Photo: Supplied

Who is Mosebenzi Zwane?

Zwane is a central figure in the controversial tenure of Busisiwe Mkhwebane as PP. She is accused of whitewashing a report into the Estina Dairy Farm scandal. The operation ended up funnelling millions of rand into the Guptas’ bank accounts, laundering the cash through the Free State Legislature. Ex-Mining Minister Zwane is believed to have played a crucial role in this, yet he wasn’t implicated once by Mkhwebane.

In the face of this criticism, Mkhwebane opened a new inquiry into Estina. And yes, Mosebenzi Zwane remains “a person of interest”. So for him to show up at her party is a little too uncomfortable for some. Natasha Mazzone, the DA’s Chief Whip, registered her disdain for the guestlist on Sunday:

“Mosebenzi Zwane’s huge and unmistakeable role in the criminal enterprise that was Estina was conspicuously absent in the first and very questionable report of this Public Protector, later emerging via a whistleblower’s report to the Speaker of Parliament, that this PP, now so cosily socializing with Zwane, instructed the investigator to remove evidence implicating Zwane.” “In August last year, the PP announced that her office had undertaken a new investigation into Estina, where politicians would be held to account. Yet Zwane (reportedly) shamelessly cavorts at the birthday celebrations of the person who is investigating him.”

Busisiwe Mkhwebane in the bad books

Busisiwe Mkhwebane is facing an uphill struggle to remain as Public Protector. The office-bearer has been implicated in a number of scandals herself. The 50-year-old’s public battles with Cyril Ramaphosa and Pravin Gordhan haven’t panned out well for her. Parliament will soon get to have a say on whether she goes or stays.