By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Public Protector South Africa (PPSA), has apppointed Advocate Nelisiwe Nkabinde as the new Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the institution.
Nkabinde has been acting in the position since the post became vacant and has officially taken over from 01 July 2023.
The position became vacant after the departure of Basani Baloyi, who was purged from the institution by suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane.
She was dismissed by Mkhwebane more or less the same time as three other senior officials, executive manager Pona Mogaladi, chief investigator Abongile Madiba, chief investigator Lesedi Sekele, and senior investigator Tebogo Kekana were suspended.
Nkabinde is an admitted Advocate of the High Court of South Africa and holds LLB and BProc degrees from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
She also has a certificate in Forensic and Investigative Auditing from the University of South Africa (UNISA).
In a statement the Public Protector’s office said,” With over two decades of experience in leadership and investigations, Nkabinde is well-equipped to handle the challenges of her new role.”
Speaking at the quarterly staff meeting, Adv. Kholeka Gcaleka introduced Nkabinde to the PPSA staff and highlighted her extensive experience in the public sector.
She mentioned that Nkabinde had previously worked for the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and the South African Post Office, where she held the position of Senior Manager: Labour Law.
Nkabinde served as a Senior Investigator and later as an Executive Manager responsible for Provincial Investigations and Integration (PII). Gcaleka expressed confidence in Nkabinde’s abilities and her commitment to strengthening the institution through new investigations and a fresh approach.
Meanwhile the applications and nominations for a Public Protector candidate that will serve a non-renewable seven-year term closed on 7 July.
Mkhwebane’s term ends in October, leaving an ad hoc committee of Parliament with the job of sifting through applications and interviewing candidates within the next two months.
Casac executive director, Lawson Naidoo, said that in the past, the process of appointing a Public Protector had been too politicised.
He said that political parties had often been focused on shortlisting their favourites, rather than candidates who were above reproach.
“We need to remove that politicisation from this process and Parliament can make a useful start by focusing on the skills of these people rather than their political views.”
Naidoo said that the Section 194 impeachment process against the incumbent had highlighted how the office has been used to settle political scores.
“The next Public Protector is going to have the huge task on her or his hands to try and restore confidence in that institution.”