Pretoria - Outgoing Public Protector advocate Thuli Madonsela vacates her office in five weeks with immense gratitude at having been given the opportunity to protect and serve South Africans.
And she said that although she had no regrets, one of her lowest points was discovering that she was being investigated. “I learnt over the TV while out of the country that my own government was seriously investigating me for being a spy.
“I thought some rascals may have come up with that idea; I didn’t think any other person would have taken it seriously.”
Madonsela is nearing the end of her seven-year term. What kept her going was a sense of gratitude that she had been given an opportunity to do the work. “I mean, it could have been given to anyone else out there; other lawyers with equal skills and the same variety of experience, but I was chosen instead.”
Madonsela was speaking at the Sheraton Hotel in Pretoria, where she was awarded the first Truth and Justice Award by the Law Society of South Africa.
She said the award meant her peers and society approved of the work she and her team were doing. “Of course, we don’t do the work to get approval, but this gives us strength and makes us feel we are worthy.”
She said her most memorable moments were cases where she and her team broke new ground, such as getting a person a house.
“My personal highlights would be the cases when we restored people’s lives and their dignity. But the manner in which the Chief Justice (Mogoeng Mogoeng) spoke, the conviction with which he believed in the Constitution and the powers of the public protector; and, what he said generally about what I and the team had been doing, was heart-warming and humbling.”
Madonsela said was sad to be leaving her team behind. “When I was working at the Law Reform Commission, I remember telling the team that even if I won the Lotto, I would love to stay there. But I moved on and found a new team. I knew while working here that it felt like home and that even if I had money and didn’t have to work for money, I would have still stayed.”
On the future, Madonsela said she was taking a year-long holiday and would return to practise law and teach at a university while operating a centre dedicated to social justice and the rule of law.
Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, Deputy Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba said Madonsela had ensured the office of the public protector became a trusted institution. “You managed to make independent, sound decisions... You knew you were watched and scrutinised, knew there were critics and sceptics, knew there were noises that tried to intimidate you, but you ignored all and focused on your mandate; sidestepped dangers and pursued the role to protect South Africans,” he said.
“When I looked at the listed applicants for judges, I thought I would see your name among the six prospective candidates, but I hope in that light this would inspire you to apply when vacancies are advertised again.”
Lutendo Sigogo, president of the Black Lawyers Association, said while others may believe Madonsela made it harder for her successors, if anything she had done the dirty work for them to prosper.
Madonsela expected to be succeeded by advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane, who got the nod from the National Assembly this week.
Pretoria News