The decision taken against Hamilton Samuel was not a sanction, but a measure to allow investigations into his conduct to be carried out without any obstructions, according to the office. This, after he was served with a notice of suspension yesterday.

In an exclusive interview with OFM News, Samuel said his suspension followed his letter to Mkhwebane requesting her to resign. He said he lost confidence in Mkhwebane and would like to see her vacate office as, in his view, she brought nothing but disrepute to the office of the Public Protector and has failed to uphold the office's mandate by protecting politicians’ interests. Samuel said the controversial multi-million rand Vrede Dairy Project is a classic example of how Mkhwebane fails to do her job and prioritises the interests of certain politicians before that of the public. Mkhwebane’s Spokesperson, Oupa Segalwe, has meanwhile said Samuel’s suspension follows a “wide distribution of a disparaging letter to Mkhwebane”.

In the statement on Thursday, Mkhwebane said Samuel wrote the letter using office resources including a branded letterhead and that he abused the office's facilities to pursue his own vendetta and incite staff to turn against the Public Protector.

The statement further alludes that “this development comes at a time when Samuel is due to undergo a disciplinary hearing for an unrelated matter”.

Samuel previously made headlines after serious allegations he made against Mkhwebane in an affidavit submitted to the speaker of the National Assembly, Thandi Modise, where he asked Modise to investigate Mkhwebane's conduct.

In the affidavit he stated that him and his colleagues felt Mkhwebane was being protected by the committee to which they lodged their complaints, within the Office of the Public Protector, and that critical information relating to the investigation regarding the multi-million rand Vrede Dairy Project was ignored.

Samuel has meanwhile confirmed that he is consulting a legal representative after he was served with the notice of suspension by Mkhwebane on Wednesday.

OFM News