Do as Thuli did, MPs urge Mkhwebane
Political parties and Corruption Watch have sent a strong message to the next public protector, calling on her to remain independent and stand up to politicians.
|||Johanneburg - Political parties in Parliament and Corruption Watch have sent a strong message to the next public protector, advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane, calling on her to remain independent and stand up to politicians just like her predecessor, Thuli Madonsela.
Almost all the parties in the National Assembly's ad hoc committee on Wednesday backed Mkhwebane, a State Security Agency (SSA) official, to succeed Madonsela.
She defeated four other contenders: Judge Siraj Desai of the Western Cape High Court, Judge Sharise Weiner of the high court in Joburg, Pensions Fund Adjudicator advocate Muvhango Lukhaimane and former prosecutor Bongani Majola.
Corruption Watch executive director David Lewis said the organisation was happy with the committee's choice and believed Mkhwebane was one of the best candidates.
Despite her reported proximity to President Jacob Zuma, parties agreed that Mkhwebane was the best person for the job. Madonsela's term ends in October.
The full sitting of the National Assembly is required to endorse her next Wednesday before her name is sent to Zuma for approval.
EFF leader Julius Malema said the party backed her despite earlier reports that she was close to Zuma. He said she was the best candidate.
"If she is close to Zuma she must run away from those things and concentrate on the Office of the Public Protector and serve our people," said Malema.
The DA's Glynnis Breytenbach echoed his concerns about being close to Zuma.
Committee chairwoman Makhosi Khoza warned Mkhwebane to stand up to politicians and conduct her job independently, without fear or favour.
She said Mkhwebane must find her moral compass in the new job, just as Madonsela had.
MPs agreed that Madonsela was one of the toughest public protectors and they needed someone in her mould.
The National Assemblys support for Mkhwebane was important in the pursuit of a credible candidate, parties said.
MPs conceded that the process had been gruelling for the candidates.
Malema was clear from the outset that the EFF did not want Judge Desai because he had been silent on rape issues during questioning in the interview.
Other than workingin the SSA, Home Affairs and the Office of the Public Protector, Mkhwebane served as South Africas diplomat in China for four years.
She is due to serve a seven-year term in office, which is not renewable, once Zuma has officially appointed her to the position.
Political Bureau