Kholeka Gcaleka Recommended As The New Public Protector

The DA's Glynnis Breytenbach expressed her dissatisfaction with the shortlisted candidates, claiming that none of them met the minimum standards.

Kholeka Gcaleka Recommended As The New Public Protector - The Times Post
Kholeka Gcaleka Recommended As The New Public Protector.

After a vote by the National Assembly, Kholeka Gcaleka has been recommended for appointment as the new Public Protector. The announcement was made by speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, who stated that Gcaleka received 244 yes votes and 12 no votes.

Gcaleka has been acting in the position since last year, following the suspension and later dismissal of former Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane. She was chosen from a list of eight candidates by parliament’s ad hoc committee.

At just a young age, Kholeka Gcaleka will be the youngest public protector. In order to be appointed, she needed to secure 60% of the house’s support.

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The announcement of Gcaleka’s appointment was preceded by a heated debate in the National Assembly. The Democratic Alliance (DA) left the house in protest, and the Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF) Mzwanele Manyi was thrown out.

The DA’s Glynnis Breytenbach expressed her dissatisfaction with the shortlisted candidates, claiming that none of them met the minimum standards.

Breytenbach insinuated that Gcaleka’s career success was a result of personal relationships, questioning her judgement and independence. Despite being instructed to withdraw her statement, Breytenbach refused and was subsequently asked to leave the house.

DA leader John Steenhuisen then criticized the speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, calling her dishonest and a liar. Steenhuisen accused her of not following the rules of Parliament and stated that she should not be in her position.

Following an adjournment to address audio issues, the DA decided to walk out of the house in protest. Meanwhile, Mzwanele Manyi accused Gcaleka of being involved in a cover-up to protect President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Phala Phala matter.

Manyi claimed that Gcaleka could not be trusted and referred to the ANC as thugs. When asked to withdraw his statement, Manyi refused and was also asked to leave the house.

Despite opposition from the DA and EFF, Gcaleka’s appointment was supported by the IFP, ANC, GOOD Party, NFP, AIC, and Al Jama-ah. The GOOD Party’s Brett Herron called for an apology to Gcaleka after the DA implied that her career progression was due to personal relationships.

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