Public Protector’s staff grilled over bogus legal advisor

The public protector’s legal team has admitted it appointed disgraced lawyer and fugitive from justice, Paul Ngobeni, without conducting any verification processes on his credentials.

JOHANNESBURG - The public protector’s legal team has admitted it appointed disgraced lawyer and fugitive from justice, Paul Ngobeni, without conducting any verification processes on his credentials.

The Office’s Legal Services Manager Thembinkosi Sithole has been grilled by evidence leaders and MPs at Parliament’s inquiry into Busisiwe Mkhebane’s fitness to hold office.

Ngobeni was paid close to R100,000 for writing opinion pieces criticising Mkhwebane’s detractors.

The inquiry resumed on Thursday after a week-long break.

It’s heard that 72 applications against Mkhwebane’s reports have been lodged – with 37 being set aside and another 47 pending in court.

eNCA's Govan Whittles reports in the video above.

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