Finance minister gives Public Protector a verbal snotklap

LONDON — Finance Minister Tito Mboweni has drawn the battle lines with Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane. At a news conference before his budget speech in Parliament, Mr Mboweni came to the defence of his Director-General Dondo Mogajane saying that he is reviewing the report of Mkhwebane that ‘Speedy Dondo’ as he called him, should be disciplined because he did not disclose a criminal record for a speeding fine. The Public Protector has since responded, expressing ‘disquiet’ at Mr Mboweni’s effort to trivialise the matter. - Linda van Tilburg