ADVOCATE Kholeka Gcaleka will be Mzansi’s new public protector.
That is if the wishes of the Ad Hoc committee tasked to find a suitable person to head the Chapter Nine institution come to fruition, as is expected when the vote goes to Parliament.
It took the committee about three hours on Tuesday, 28 August, to come up with Gcaleka's name as the next Public Protector (PP).
Gcaleka is currently the deputy PP and has been acting PP in the absence of Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane.
Mkhwebane was suspended in June 2022 and is facing a probe by the Parliament’s Committee for the Section 194 Inquiry to determine her fitness to hold office.
After deliberations on Tuesday, 29 August, seven of the committee members voted in Gcaleka’s favour and four voted against her.
“The committee met and agreed to nominate Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka for appointment as Public Protector, with the Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters and Freedom Front Plus dissenting.
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"Having considered the National Assembly’s request for the committee to nominate a person for appointment as Public Protector, the committee recommends that the House recommends Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka to the president for appointment as Public Protector,” said chairman Cyril Xaba.
She needs 60% of votes in the National Assembly before her name goes to the president for ratification and appointment.
Gcaleka was chosen ahead of advocates Tseliso Thipanyane, Lynn Marais, Oliver Josie, Tommy Ntsewa, magistrates Johannah Ledwaba and Muvhango Lukhaimane, as well as Professor Boitumelo Mmusinyane, who had all been shortlisted and interviewed.
The EFF has already made it clear that it will object to Gcaleka’s nomination as the next PP and take steps to prevent it.
