Cape Town - Marikana Commission of Inquiry spokesman Kevin Malunga is the favourite to become the next deputy public protector following interviews at Parliament on Monday.
Malunga was one of four candidates interviewed by the oversight committee on justice and constitutional development. A fifth candidate was unable to attend the interviews.
Malunga was supported for the position by all political parties represented on the committee.
He holds an LLB from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and an LLM from the Georgetown University Law Centre in Washington, and has lectured in law at the universities of KwaZulu-Natal and Witwatersrand. He also worked as an advocate for seven years while lecturing.
The position of deputy public protector will become vacant at the end of this month when incumbent Mamiki Shai’s contract ends.
Malunga said he was “not an active member of a political party”.
DA MP Dene Smuts said although her party was satisfied with Malunga, it wanted time to contact his referees.
Committee chairman Luwellyn Landers agreed to give MPs an opportunity to consult their parties on the committee’s choice of Malunga before a recommendation is submitted to the National Assembly.
Political Bureau