Parliament calls for applications as it restarts process to find new deputy Public Protector
Applications must reach Parliament by the 11 October.
Public Protector House. Image: Supplied/@PublicProtector on X
CAPE TOWN - Parliament is restarting the process for a new deputy Public Protector.
The position became vacant almost a year ago when Kholeka Gcaleka was appointed as Public Protector, having initially been appointed as the deputy to Busisiwe Mkhwebane.
Mkhwebane’s refusal to recuse herself from the interviewing panel in March after having become an MP soon after her impeachment led to the recruitment process being set aside.
In March, the justice committee interviewed seven candidates for the job of deputy Public Protector.
One of those candidates was representing Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Busisiwe Mkhwebane pro bono in a legal challenge against her dismissal as the former Public Protector.
Another of the candidates is an employee of the Public Protector’s office and had previously been disciplined by Mkhwebane about which she testified during Mkhwebane’s impeachment inquiry.
Only after the committee had conducted the interviews, did a legal opinion suggest Mkhwebane’s participation presented a reasonable apprehension of bias.
With the sixth administration winding up its business at the time, there was no time to restart the process.
Parliament is now calling for applications for the two-million rand job which is for a seven-year, renewable term.
Applicants must be a lawyer with at least ten years experience.
Applications must reach Parliament by the 11 October.