Johannesburg - Parliament should make the curricula vitae (CVs) of all nominees and applicants for the post of Public Protector public, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Wednesday.
DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach said she did not agree with comments by Makhosi Khoza, chairwoman of Parliament’s ad hoc committee tasked with recommending a candidate to succeed incumbent Thuli Madonsela, that nominees consent would be obtained prior to CV’s being made public.
Breytenbach said the CVs of all applicants and nominees should be published in the public interest.
She added: “Any candidate wishing for their CV to remain confidential should immediately be considered as ineligible to be considered to head up this crucial corruption-busting chapter nine institution.”
Breytenbach said if a candidate preferred to keep their CV “confidential”, it would point to “smallayana skeletons they wish to conceal from public scrutiny”.
She emphasised that all potential candidates “considered for this position are beyond reproach and free from all scandal”.
Earlier on Wednesday, during a media briefing in Parliament, Khoza announced that the committee had received 21 applications and nominations so far, including a nomination for Madonsela.
“The nominations received include, among others, the current serving public protector, advocate Thuli Madonsela, as well as her deputy Kevin Malunga,” said committee chairwoman Makhosi Khoza while briefing journalists in Parliament.
The Constitution however precludes Madonsela from serving a second term, as the public protector may only serve for a period of seven years. Madonsela’s term of office expires in October.
Khoza did not disclose the names of the other nominees, only saying there were “interesting” nominations, adding that the committee would have a “difficult time to decide who is going to be shortlisted”.
Members of the public have until Friday to submit their nominations for public protector and they should include a motivating letter, curriculum vitae, contact details, and a signed letter of acceptance from the nominee.
The names and details of those nominated would be published on the parliamentary website (www.parliament.gov.za) by the end of next week, said Khoza.
Prior to the shortlisting process, the credentials of nominees will be verified, said Khoza.
“The verification process is going to be twofold. We are going to have our own verification process which is going to be done by the team that is supporting the committee and basically that process is very critical, especially in answering the fit and proper aspect of the candidate public protector…but there will also be a vetting that will be done by the appropriate state security agency and that is done with all positions of this nature.”
Applications and nominations for the position of public protector should reach the committee, through its secretary Vhonani Ramaano (3rd Floor, 90 Plein Street, Cape Town, 8000 / PO Box 15, Cape Town, 8001 or [email protected]) by 4pm on Friday.
African News Agency