Who could be SA’s next Public Protector?
On Wednesday, the Parliamentary Ad Hoc to Nominate a Person fired Appointment as Public Protector has announced the 38 candidate’s that have been put up for public comment on the parliamentary website. Committee Chairperson Cyril Xaba, says the committee received 53 applications, however, 32 were disqualified during the initial sifting process for non-compliance. ALSO READ: Constitutional […]
On Wednesday, the Parliamentary Ad Hoc to Nominate a Person fired Appointment as Public Protector has announced the 38 candidate’s that have been put up for public comment on the parliamentary website.
Committee Chairperson Cyril Xaba, says the committee received 53 applications, however, 32 were disqualified during the initial sifting process for non-compliance.
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The 38 shortlisted candidates will further be cut down on 26 July for interviews.
TAKE A LOOK AT 6 CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC PROTECTOR
1. NOMBULELO NOMALUNGELO BEAUCHAMP
Beauchamp has over 18 years of experience in the legal field. She has studied both in South Africa and the USA. Her career started off at the Constitutional Court where she did her articles of clerkship.
During her time at Bowman Gilfiluan Inc she was part of a team that provided legal advice to an Ad Hoc Committee of a provincial legislature investigating allegations of corruption in a housing programme.
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2. ADVOCATE NOMPILO KHOLEKA GCALEKA
Gcaleka is the current acting Public Protector, she held the position of deputy while Busisiwe Mkhwebane was still in office. Gcaleka recently published a report exonerating President Cyril Ramaphosa of any wrongdoing in his response in regards to the Phala Phala incident.
Gcaleka holds a master’s degree in Commercial law and Master’s in Cyber Security Governance.
Before joining the offices of the Public Protector, Gcaleka was appointed as special adviser to the Ministers of Home Affairs (November 2016- March 2017), Finance (April 2017- February 18) and, Public Service and Administration (October 2019-January 2020).
3. HUANG JONES
Jones holds a Master’s degree in corporate law from UNISA. Jones has spent a large part of his career working for the South African Human Rights Commission and Legal Aid.
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Until August 2022, Jones held the position of Provincial Head and Acting head of legal at the SAHRC. A position he held from July 2016. Prior to that he was a senior legal officer for he commission for six years.
4. ADVOCATE OLIVER JOSIE
Josie holds a Masters in Law and a Master in Business Leadership. Since 1999, Josie has obtained and completed 22 training programs and certificates.
Josie currently serves as a Non-Executive Chairperson of the Audit and Risk Committee for the Department of Water and Sanitation.
He was also the Chief Operating Officer for the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition’s Competition Tribunal from August 2020 and August 2022.
Josie has also held the position of Director in the Directorate of Special Operations (the now disbanded Scorpions) from October 2001 till August 2005.
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5. RICHARD KHOZA
Unlike most applicants, Khoza does not have a legal background but is however in his 4th year of his law degree. Khoza has experience in education and working in public administration.
Khoza holds a BA degree in Education and a BComm degree in Informatics both from Unisa as well as an MBA from the University of Lancaster in the UK.
For 10 years he was a geography teacher at Masingitana High School. From there he was appointed as a project centre administrative officer for the Department of Public Works and the Cost centre manager for the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport.
Khoza then spent 12 years within the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality starting out at the Labour Relations Officer for Corporate Services and left the municipal offices in 2019 having held the position of Director of Corporate Services.
6. ADVOCATE IKE THAMSANQA KHUMALO
Khumalo holds a Master’s degree in Labour Law from Unisa.
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Khumalo spent a large part of his career working within the arts as a theatre performer being a national organizer for the Performing Arts Workers Equity (PAWE). He has also served as a Campaign Officer and legal adviser for the Creative Workers Union of South Africa (CWUSA).
His experience in court was spent on criminal law trials and civil law cases, particularly Road Accident Fund claims.