Parliament should make public all CVs of Public Protector hopefuls

22 June 2016

The DA notes the press conference just held by the Chairperson of the Ad Hoc Committee established to facilitate processes for the appointment of a new Public Protector, Dr Makhosi Khoza, who stated that she would ask the candidates for their consent before making the CVs public.

The DA contends that all CVs of those vying to be the next Public Protector should be made public on Parliament’s website as it is in the public interest that every candidate be thoroughly vetted by the Ad Hoc Committee. Any candidate wishing for their CV to remain confidential should immediately be considered as ineligible to be considered to head up this crucial corruption-busting Chapter Nine institution.

If a candidate wishes to keep their CV confidential, it can only be deduced that they have “smallayana skeletons” they wish to conceal from public scrutiny even though it is of paramount importance that the candidates considered for this position are beyond reproach and free from all scandal.

Dr Khoza herself asserted on 02 June 2016 that “all committees of parliament are public. These processes must be transparent". We implore the Chairperson not to renege on her own commitment in this regard and to give effect to presiding over a process that is free from undue political considerations.

In any event National Assembly (NA) Rule 138A expressly stipulates that individuals before committee are “required to produce any document in connection with the subject matter of the enquiry…”

This is also pursuant to the Constitution and Public Protector Act which demands that a “fit and proper person” be appointed to the Office of the Public Protector. This  is consistent protocol as evidenced by the appointment of Janet Love to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and the appointment of judges. The DA sees no reason why this appointment should be any different unless candidates have something to hide.

It is in this spirit that the DA calls on this appointment process to be carried out in an impartial and transparent manner. The Office of the Public Protector should stand as a watch-dog against government corruption, impropriety and maladministration.

To replace the fearless Adv Madonsela with an ANC lapdog would be undermining our hard-won constitutional imperatives. 

The DA, alongside political parties who believe in the Rule of Law and stopping corruption, will work tirelessly during this process to appoint the new Public Protector, to ensure that the right woman or man is appointed to serve the interests of the people instead of the narrow interests of a political cabal set on advancing their own self-interested agenda.

Issued by Glynnis Breytenbach, DA Shadow Minister of Justice, 22 June 2016