ActionSA implores Parliament to appoint a suitably competent candidate for Deputy Public Protector

14 March 2024

The Justice and Correctional Services Portfolio Committee has commenced with the interview process of finding a suitably qualified candidate for the vacant position of Deputy Public Protector.

ActionSA calls on the Justice and Correctional Services Portfolio Committee to ensure that it conducts a fair, transparent and non-prejudicial interview process in its endeavour to choose amongst the shortlisted candidates.

Against this backdrop, we wish to register our concern, that the Portfolio Committee comprises none other than the now impeached former Public Protector, Adv. Busisiwe Mkhwebane MP, whom the courts pronounced lacks integrity and falls dismally short of the standards required to hold such a high office. The Constitutional Court further found that she put forward a “number of falsehoods” and acted in bad faith in the Absa/Bankorp judicial review.

We urge the Portfolio Committee not to put forward narrow party-political interests and consider the repair work needed for the restoration of the Office of the Public Protector after it was almost hollowed out and rendered ineffective by its former principal. This Chapter 9 institution is amongst the last bulwark against rampant state malfeasance and thus impresses on us to ensure it is adequately capacitated with the best personnel.

ActionSA remains committed to the strengthening of the rule of law and its institutions and advocates for candidates that are beyond reproach.

Issued by Julie Seton, FixSA Member for Justice, ActionSA, 14 March 2024