Ad Hoc Committee to nominate next public protector wraps up interviews
24 August 2023
The Ad Hoc Committee to Nominate a Person for Appointment as Public Protector (PP) today concluded its interviews with the shortlisted candidates for the position of PP. The Committee will meet on Tuesday to deliberate and recommend a candidate for appointment.
The Chairperson of the committee, Mr Cyril Xaba, said the committee had engaged with candidates vigorously and extensively but still very respectfully over the last two days. “It is our responsibility to fulfil our mandate and ask probing questions but at the same time to do so whilst respecting the rights of all individuals.”
Four candidates were interviewed today. They are Ms. Muvhango Lukhaimane, Ms. Johannah Ledwaba, Prof Boitumelo Mmusinyane and Adv Kholeka Gcaleka. Yesterday the committee interviewed the first four candidates - Adv Tseliso Thipanyane, Adv Kwena Thomas Ntsewa, Adv Oliver Josie and Adv Lynnette Marais. The committee spent 90 minutes per candidate.
Ms Muvhango Lukhaimane, Pension Funds Adjudicator, said in her interview she is aware the position requires the candidate to act without fear or favour. She went on to say that intelligence services should not be excluded from investigations by the office of the Public Protector South Africa (PPSA). Her own background in the intelligence services was questioned by some Members as well as the recruitment of undercover agents while she was heading its human resources. She responded: “I have knowledge of that today, and I was not required to have knowledge of that at the time.”
Ms Johannah Ledwaba, a magistrate who worked her way up from a cleaner, said she thinks the public does not have enough awareness of the office of the PPSA. Later in her interview she indicated she is passionate to dispense justice ad that she wanted “to be a voice of the voiceless.”
Prof Boitumelo MMusinyane told the committee in his introduction that: “I cannot succumb to any political pressure.” He further stated that Section 195 of the Constitution sets out that the public service must be governed by the highest ethical standards. He questioned the bailing out of State Owned Entities, as it does not deliver basic services. “There needs to be accountability measures in place,” said Prof Mmusinyane. Adding that he would push for amendments to the Public Protector Act, so that certain investigations should be charged to departments, like SIU does, to mitigate the PPSA’s financial constraints.
Adv Kholeka Gcaleka, the current deputy PP and also acting PP, was the last of the candidates and said in response to a question on how the trust in the office can be restored, that all the PPSA reports must be reports of integrity. She said she had to take charge and lead during a huge crisis at PPSA but assured the Members that “things have changed” since. She was questioned on her reference in the Phala Phala matter to a private transaction. She said the South African Reserve Bank found that the sale had not been concluded and it therefor fell outside of the mandate of the PPSA.
Mr Xaba said the committee will deliberate on Tuesday on the candidates. “I am confident that with the eight candidates interviewed, the committee would be in a position to recommend the strongest possible candidate for the position.” The committee must submit its report to the National Assembly by 31 August 2023. The term of the current PP comes to an end in October 2023.
Issued by Rajaa Azzakani, Media Officer, Parliament, 24 August 2023
