Parliament’s ad hoc committee on the appointment of a public protector has short-listed 10 people to succeed Selby Baqwa when his term of office ends on September 30.
MPs compiled the list after receiving 17 nominations; one, by the Institute for Democracy in South Africa, was not considered as it was received after the closing date for applications.
Public interviews will be held in Parliament next week.
The short-listed candidates include University of Transkei Dean of Law, Professor Mzamo Gumbi; Pretoria advocate Ferdinand Gustav Preller; Western Cape department of justice head Hisamodien Mohamed; Assistant to the Public Protector Tinus Schutte; and, Land Claims Court Judge Bakone Moloto.
Also short-listed are Johannesburg advocate Chris Mokoditoa, eThekwini director of forensic investigations, Murray Stewart; Durban magistrate Sifiso Luthuli; Johannesburg magistrate Ratha Mokgoatlheng; and, Pretoria advocate Seth Nthai.
The national director of the legal resources centre, Professor Bongani Christopher Majola, withdrew his nomination. Last month the committee called for more nominations, after only receiving seven. Of the original seven, only two made it onto the short-list.
The president, on the recommendation of the National Assembly, appoints the Public Protector for a non-renewable seven-year term. In terms of the Constitution, the public protector has the power to investigate any conduct in state affairs, or in the public sphere of government, that is alleged to be improper, or which results in any impropriety or prejudice. – Sapa