Siyabonga Mkhwanazi
THE ANC has deployed some of its big guns to sit on the ad hoc committee that will pick the new public protector.
South Africa could have the name of the public protector by the end of August if the majority of the MPs agree on who succeeds Thuli Madonsela.
Yesterday, Parliament endorsed a motion that an ad hoc committee be established to look into candidates for the post.
The ANC has deployed its veteran and chairperson of the ethics committee, Amos Masondo, finance committee member Makhosi Khoza and justice committee member Bongani Bongo to sit on the ad hoc committee.
Madonsela has held the position for the past seven years.
ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu’s motion in the National Assembly for the ad hoc committee to be established was backed by all parties.
DA spokesperson on justice Glynnis Breytenbach said Madonsela had raised the bar to her predecessors in conducting investigations.
The first public protector was Selby Baqwa, who was later succeeded by Lawrence Mushwana.
But Madonsela’s work has increased immensely in the recent past. Last week, in the debate on the Appropriations Bill, DA MP David Maynier proposed an amendment to the budget to give an extra R118 million to the Office of the Public Protector.
Madonsela’s budget is presently R263m and she has called for more funds to do extensive investigations.
In his motion in the National Assembly, Mthembu said the ad hoc committee would have to provide the name of a new public protector by the end of August.
The ANC is expected to chair the committee as it is the majority party in Parliament.
The members acknowledged that the appointment was not a simple task as it requires a majority of 60% of the votes in the National Assembly.
In some of the appointments done in Parliament for heads of public institutions, what is required is a simple majority of 50%.
Candidates have to apply for the position, and they have to have a strong legal background.