The National Assembly has voted for Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka, to be the next Public Protector.
This after she was recommended by the Ad Hoc Committee to head the Chapter 9 institution, following interviews of eight candidates that were held in August.
Gcaleka has been acting in the position since 2022, after the suspension of then incumbent, Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane, who has since been dismissed.
She needed 60% of votes for her appointment to go through, and 244 voted in her favour, 12 voted against the nomination, while the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) members of parliament earlier staged a walk-out.
Gcaleka’s vote was however marred by chaos, as the DA and EFF speakers hurled insults at her nomination and vehemently denied her appointment, before staging a walk-out after refusing to withdraw some of their comments.
“A serious question mark must exist over her personal judgment and her independence. Her very cosy relationship and some say intimate relationship with her boss, the rather odious Menzi Simelane, led to speedy promotions and her very vocal and active support of his role in the capture of the NPA,” alleged Glynnis Breytenbach.
Her remarks were objected to by ANC members, who called on the speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to ask her to withdraw, and when she refused, she was asked to leave the house and later followed by her colleagues.
The EFF also rejected Gcaleka’s nomination, accusing her of releasing a Phala Phala farm robbery report that exonerated President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“She is part of a cover-up assembled to protect President Cyril Ramaphosa at all costs and she can’t be trusted.
To come here and pretend that she does not have a cloud hanging over her head and think that we can give the office of the Public Protector a fresh start would be deceitful.
We reject her appointment with the contempt it deserves,” stressed EFF’s Mzwanele Manyi.
But the ANC used its majority to ensure that Gcaleka gets the nod.
“We believe the candidate recommended to this house, is most appropriate to fulfil this role and bring back the pride that the people of South Africa had in the office of the Public Protector.
Advocate Gcaleka, the most prepared and demonstrated confidence and qualities that display that she’s able to be independent and able to apply the law to the facts,” said ANC’s Richard Dyantyi, a staunch supporter of Gcaleka.
Gcaleka’s nomination was supported by the Inkatha Freedom Party, Al Jama-ah, National Freedom Party and GOOD Party.
Other parties were absent in Parliament, while the DA and EFF members staged a walk-out. Gcaleka’s endorsement has now been sent to Ramaphosa for a formal appointment.
