Public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s case on the infamous SMS from Ismail Abramjee was based on “speculation and conjecture”, said counsel for the speaker of parliament in court on Thursday.

The Western Cape High Court was hearing its second day of argument in the public protector’s urgent interdict application to halt an impeachment process in parliament and to prevent her possible suspension by President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has given Mkhwebane until May 26 to tell him why she should not be suspended.  

On Wednesday Mkhwebane told the high court the SMS sent to the speaker’s counsel, Andrew Breitenbach SC, by Abramjee last month was a criminal act intended to advantage the speaker, disadvantage the public protector and influence the high court judges...