Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
04 November 2023 | 09:03 CAT

Image: South African

The Presidency announced on Wednesday morning that President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Gcaleka, the former Deputy Public Protector who took on acting Public Protector in June last year.

“The president wishes advocate Gcaleka well in her position and trusts that she will serve the people of South Africa with honour and dedication,” the Presidency said in a statement.

Her seven-year term starts on Wednesday.

The term of Gcaleka’s predecessor, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, ended on 14 October. Mkhwebane, however, was suspended by Ramaphosa in June last year ahead of an inquiry into her fitness for office.

After an arduous process, with Mkhwebane and her legal team filibustering, the inquiry found Mkhwebane incompetent and guilty of misconduct and recommended her removal. The required two-thirds majority of the National Assembly voted to support her removal on 11 September, and she became the first head of a Chapter 9 institution to be removed.

However, there was mixed reaction from political parties to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to appoint Gcaleka as the country’s fifth public protector.

Build One South Africa leader Mmusi Maimane said the country needs a “public protector, not a president’s protector”.

“Kholeka is arriving with a cloud of Phala Phala over her head, we need to investigate that matter”, said Maimane.

Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse executive director of accountability Stefanie Fick said Gcaleka would have to wipe out the trust deficit at the public protector’s office.

“Kholeka has got an enormous task to convince us, the public that there will be no political interference,” Fick added.

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round-Up with Moulana Junaid Kharsany.