This archive report was first published on 22 July 2019.
On July 22, 2019, South Africa's highest court delivered a devastating judgement against Public Protector Busisiwe Mkwebane, ruling that she had lied under oath and acted in bad faith.
The BBC's Andrew Harding in Johannesburg says this judgement will add weight to claims that Mkwebane is involved in a dirty-tricks campaign to undermine President Cyril Ramaphosa and halt his campaign against high-level corruption.
Ms Mkwebane's critics say she is being used by supporters of former President Jacob Zuma, who is fighting corruption allegations himself.
Ms Mkwebane has denied any wrongdoing, saying her work is being done according to the law and the constitution.
However, many of her recent reports have become swamped by scandal, leading to claims that she is siding with Zuma's faction within the governing African National Congress (ANC).
Mr Ramaphosa replaced Mr Zuma as party leader last year after the then-president had become embroiled in numerous corruption scandals.
He denied the allegations, saying the report was "fundamentally and irretrievably flawed".
Ms Mkwebane has been in the job for less than three years but has already faced two attempts for her removal from office, accusations of political bias, and the most scathing of all, a reprimand from the constitutional court.
