Thuli Madonsela to be recommended as Public Protector

By Khanyisa Tabata
17 September 2009

Thuli Madonsela is expected to be the name put forward in the National Assembly next week to replace Lawrence Mushwana as the country’s Public Protector.

Mushwana’s seven-year term will come to an end on 15 October and is not renewable.

Committee Chairperson, Advocate Tshililo Masutha, said in an interview the short listing, interviewing and nomination process had gone well and that all candidates had been highly competent and competitive.

According to Masutha, the nomination of Madonsela as South Africa’s new Public Protector is expected to be tabled and endorsed by Parliament next week Tuesday. It will then be up to President Jacob Zuma to sign off on the appointment.

He said Madonsela was the most suitable candidate. He further believed that in executing her duties as the country’s first female Public Protector, she would be impartial and independent.

Madonsela also writes prolifically on human rights, gender, race and various justice reform matters. She is the co-architect of the South Africa Bench Book for Equality Courts and has authored several books and reports on law, gender and human rights.