The acting public protector (OB) Kholeka Gcaleka stands a chance to fill this position permanently before the end of the year after she received 17 nominations for the position.
Adv. Ike Khumalo who was charged with incitement to public violence after the riots of July 2021, and adv. Tseliso Thipanyane, former chief executive of the Human Rights Commission, is also on the nomination list.
Cyril Xaba, chairman of the ad hoc committee that must nominate South Africa’s next OB, received no less than 53 nominations and 17 applications from prospective candidates.
However, a total of 32 of the 53 nominations were already thrown out during the initial screening process. Some did not meet the requirements – this includes that of the suspended OB, adv. Busisiwe Mkhwebane, and her legal representative Dali Mpofu – while others simply did not know about the nomination and rejected it.
This includes people like Chief Justice Raymond Zondo and the DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach.
A total of 38 candidates, including Gcaleka, Khumalo and Thipanyane, did pass the first screening test.
These candidates’ names have since been posted on the parliament’s website for public comment. The public now has until July 21 to provide input on these candidates.
A shortlist of candidates will be drawn up before the end of the month before interviews take place between 21 and 25 August.
Xaba says the committee will then deliberate again before presenting the names of the preferred candidates to the National Assembly.
Mkhwebane, who received four nominations, officially expires on 14 October.
The committee must submit a list of candidates to parliament by the end of August.
