Big names lined up to replace Thuli Madonsela: report

·26 Jun 2016

A number of high-profile people have been nominated to replace Thuli Madonsela as public protector, the Sunday Times has reported.

Madonsela’s term ends in October, with the deadline for nominations and applications for her replacement having closed on Friday, 24 June.

The Sunday Times reported that the names of 72 people are on the list, including:

Thabo Mbeki – former president of South Africa;
Graça Machel – widow of Nelson Mandela and politician;
Vusi Pikoli – former national director of public prosecutions;
Gerrie Nel – advocate and prosecutor for the National Prosecuting Authority;
Judge Siraj Desai of the High Court in Cape Town;
Mojanku Gumbi – advocate and former legal adviser to Thabo Mbeki;
Dumisa Ntsebeza SC – advocate;
Dali Mpofu SC – advocate, and EFF national chairman;
Kaajal Ramjathan-Keogh – a human rights lawyer and the director of the Southern Africa Litigation Centre;
Pierre de Vos – University of Cape Town constitutional law expert.

The paper reported that both Mbeki and Graça Machel, have indicated that they are not available for the position.

Retired Constitutional Court justice Dikgang Moseneke and former finance minister, Nhlanhla Nene, were also mentioned by the Sunday Times.

Citing Makhosi Khoza, an ANC MP and chairman of the ad hoc committee, it said that Nene and Moseneke were eligible for consideration.

“In terms of the procedure, their nominations were in time. So I’m going to consider them if they accept by Monday and submit their CVs. I will accept their nominations because they were in on time,” said Khoza.

Khoza said that the names of at least five former and two serving MPs have also been put forward, along with several sitting judges.

The final list of candidates is set to be released on Tuesday, 28 June.

Read the full report in the 26 June 2016 edition of the Sunday Times.