Cape Town - The chairwoman of Parliament’s ad hoc committee, Makhosi Khoza, has denied that Luthuli House has given instructions on the appointment of the new public protector.
Khoza assured the country on Tuesday after 59 people were nominated to succeed Thuli Madonsela.
Willie Hofmeyr, deputy director of public prosecutions and former head of the Asset Forfeiture Unit; University of Cape Town constitutional law expert Professor Pierre de Vos; and Parliament’s former legal adviser, advocate Nonkosi Cetywayo, are some of the front-runners for the job.
This followed the declining of nominations by 14 people, including Nelson Mandela’s widow Graça Machel and ex-finance minister Nhlanhla Nene.
Former president Thabo Mbeki and retired Constitutional Court judge Yvonne Mokgoro also declined nominations too.
Khoza reiterated that this was going to be a transparent process and the public has until July 8 to raise objections to any of the 59 nominated candidates.
Khoza has agreed that the identity numbers of the candidates can be made public on request by people raising objections. “In the vetting process we have been clear about making sure this is transparent and that the information will be available to members of the public,” she said.