By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza has declined to enter the fray into a “romantic relationship” between secretary of Parliament Xolile George and Public Protector Kholeka Gxaleka.
This follows a letter dated the 9th of February by the Democratic Alliance (DA) questioning the exact nature of the relationship between George and the Public Protector.
Didiza said, “The issue you raise in your letter dated 9 February concerns allegations about personal matter, which, if resulting in a conflict of interest, would fall within responsibility of the Office of the Public Protector to respond to the Democratic Alliance, as complainant. I can therefore not accede to your request as suggested in your correspondence.”
The DA lodged a complaint with the Public Protector, among others, regarding George’s, salary increase of more than 88% since 2022, and the misappropriation of funds relating to the BRICS summit at Emperor’s Palace in 2023.
The Public Protector, in a letter dated 11 February 2026, replied to the DA’s enquiry recusing herself from an investigation after declaring a conflict of interest due to her relationship with George.
Gxaleka in her response said “In line with section 3(14) and (15) of the Public Protector Act 23 of 1994, I immediately disclosed to Adv N Nkabinde, the Chief Operations Officer and Head of Legal Service, Adv N vd Merwe, that I may reasonably be perceived to have a conflict between my private interests and my official duties in this matter”.
In response, the DA wants know if the Secretary to Parliament did make a declaration to the Executive Authority of Parliament (the Speaker and Chairperson of the NCOP), declaring the same possible conflict of interest.
“This is important, since the Public Protector is the head of a Chapter 9 institution that may well in future be called on to investigate matters related to Parliament of which George is the accounting officer and he therefore has an ethical obligation to disclose such a possible conflict, said DA Chief Whip in Parliament George Michalakis.