Mkhwebane recommended for Public Protector top job

Image: YouTube - Public Protector Interviews: Busisiwe Mkhwebane

Mkhwebane received overwhelming support as the candidate to replace outgoing Public Protector Thuli Madonsela whose seven year tenure comes to an end next month.

House Chairperson: Committees, Oversight and ICT in the National Assembly Cedric Frolick, who presided over voting proceedings, announced that 263 Members of Parliament voted in favour of Mkhwebane’s nomination, while 79 voted against her, with one abstaining from voting.

“The nomination of Advocate Busisiwe Joyce Mkhwebane is accordingly agreed to... the recommendation will now be forwarded to the President for consideration.”

The recommendation concludes a lengthy process which started with the appointment of an ad hoc committee to facilitate the nomination of Advocate Madonsela’s successor from an initial list of 78 candidates.

The number was brought down to 59 candidates after several nominees declined their nominations.

On the 28 June 2016, the committee published the names of all candidates that were under consideration and gave members of the public until 8 July 2016 to make submissions.

More than 100 submissions were received.

On 11 August, 14 candidates appeared before the ad hoc committee for hours of interviews that ran into the early hours of the morning.

The committee later cut the number to five candidates and after deliberations Advocate Mkhwebane emerged as the nominee from the committee.

Dr Makhosi Khoza, the Chairperson of the Ad Hoc Committee, told MPs on Wednesday that the public interest in the process was “unparalleled”.

She said Advocate Mkhwebane stood out during her interview.

“This woman was phenomenal in many respects. She was the only candidate as a matter of fact who even remembered each question that was asked to her and even the names of those people that asked the questions. And this is the candidate that was also supported by the members of the public.”

Several political parties, with the exception of the Democratic Alliance, said the nominee demonstrated that she was a suitable candidate for the job.

They also paid tribute to outgoing Public Protector Advocate Madonsela.

African National Congress (ANC) MP Bongani Bongo said Advocate Mkhwebane was the better candidate because she had worked in the office of the Public Protector before and her familiarity with the environment meant that she would “hit the ground running”.

“In the interview, she has proven in terms of the legislation, particularly the Public Protector Act, that says that the Person who is appointed must act without fear or favour. She has demonstrated that character in her interview.”

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Floyd Shivambu said he was impressed by her commitment and determination to make the office of the Public Protector accessible.

“You must be humble. You must have the temperament that you demonstrated during the interview process. You must not be easily angered by anyone because there will be lots of criticisms that are going to come you.”