By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The first day of interviews by Parliament’s ad hoc committee to select the country’s next Public Protector kicked off on Wednesday.
The committee, which includes various MPs from different political parties, has been tasked with finding a replacement for suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane, who faces possible removal from office for alleged misconduct and incompetence.
MPs have until the end of this month to recommend a suitable candidate to the National Assembly to be selected for appointment after it received a briefing on Tuesday on the results of the screening process of the eight candidates shortlisted for interviews, who were all cleared.
Advocate Tseliso Thipanyane touted his leadership qualities and pledged to tackle corruption in government.
Thipanyane, the former CEO of the SA Human Rights Commission, said he possesses the qualities of a leader capable of leading such a critical Chapter 9 institution, mandated to support and strengthen the country’s constitutional democracy.
He said he was a fit and proper candidate to lead the Office of the Public Protector because he was intelligent, humble, trustworthy, and disciplined
Advocate Kwena Ntsewa – a self-employed advocate specialising in the legal areas of corporate governance, personal injury, contract, labour, corporate, mining, criminal, family, constitutional, and administrative law – described himself as fair, honest, principled, and inclusive.
He said he would deal with each complaint before him equally and without prejudice.
“There will not be a small or big case that is important or less important because every complaint that approaches the Public Protector would be regarded as the same,” Ntsewa said.
The two candidates also spoke about the need to increase the funding of the Office of the Public Protector and to make it more accessible to the public.
Advocate Lynnette Marais – who has an extensive career in the legal field, including as an acting magistrate – said she was confident that if she were to be appointed Public Protector, she would turn around the institution by focusing on the quality of its investigations.
She said, I’m confident that my experience combined with my education, investigative skills, communication skills, analytical skills [and] my sound decision-making skills, together with my ability to thrive under pressure, makes me a suitable candidate for this position.
Another candidate contending for the top job, Advocate Oliver Josie, raised concerns about the skills deficient at the Chapter 9 institution, particularly when it comes to its forensic investigations.
He said, one of the things the Office of the Public Protector said in their mid-term review last year was the skills deficiency when it comes to forensic investigations. If you look at my background, I’ve been in forensic investigations for more than 30 years, and I think that’s an area where there has to be a focus on recruiting more forensic investigators.
The interviews for the Public Protector are set to continue on Thursday for the final day, with the incumbent Acting Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka expected on the hot seat.
The other candidates to be interviewed include Professor Boitumelo Mmusinyane, Advocate Muvhango Lukhaimane and Magistrate Johannah Ledwaba.
Watch Live in the video below:
Video Courtesy of Parliament.