Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane's term as Public Protector will come to an end next year after seven years in office that have been largely defined by ‘scathing rulings that invalidated her most politically explosive reports’.

She claimed her investigations into the Estina dairy farm scam, Reserve Bank, President Cyril Ramaphosa's CR17 campaign and the so-called SARS rogue unit – among others – were driven by a genuine desire to preserve the independence and powers of her office.

But, says legal journalist Karyn Maughan, her refusal to accept the rulings against her – and her insistence on trying to challenge every aspect of the pending impeachment investigation that she faces in Parliament – has made it clear her particular brand of Stalingrad litigation is aimed at one thing and one thing only: keeping herself in office.

‘How else does one explain Mkhwebane's ill-conceived efforts to rescind the most recent Constitutional Court rulings against her?’ asks Maughan.

Writing on the News24 site, Maughan adds if Mkhwebane's latest correspondence to Parliament is to be believed, she appears intent on using a rescission application to delay Parliament from proceeding with its inquiry into her fitness to hold office.

Maughan says Mkhwebane’s litigation appears no longer to be about ensuring legal victory.

‘It is about delaying the inevitable calls for accountability that will follow the finalisation of these unwinnable cases, and avoiding a parliamentary inquiry into her fitness for as long as possible.’

She notes Mkhwebane has always been adamant she would finish her term in office – stating in court papers it was highly unlikely two-thirds of MPs would vote in favour of her impeachment, even if she was found guilty of gross misconduct and dishonesty she stands accused of.

‘Despite this, she has used the courts, which she so often accuses of bias against her, to evade what she arguably fears most: being confronted with her apparent ineptitude and dishonesty in a public inquiry process – and being asked to explain it.’

Maughan adds: ‘Given Mkhwebane represents an office tasked with holding those responsible for state maladministration and abuses to account, her use of expensive litigation to herself avoid accountability is not just a frustrating waste of taxpayers' money. It is, arguably, a powerful illustration of why she is not serving as one of South Africa's most powerful watchdogs – she is only protecting herself.’

Full analysis on the News24 site