Former public protector advocate Thuli Madonsela has congratulated advocate Kholeka Gcaleka on her appointment as the institution’s new leader, saying it was well deserved.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Gcaleka’s appointment as public protector on Wednesday, two weeks after parliament approved her nomination.
Unlike some opposition parties who criticised Gcaleka’s appointment, Madonsela saw it as a positive step.
“Congratulations advocate Kholeka Gcaleka on being appointed public protector, thus heading one of South Africa’s democracy-anchoring institutions. It’s a well-deserved appointment. Your professionalism, level-headedness and sagacity will help you navigate whatever life brings your way,” Madonsela said.
ActionSA spokesperson Lerato Ngobeni said: “We hope the posture of her tenure as public protector will be zero tolerance for corruption and her office will be restored as a symbol of our democracy and an institution that handles misconduct and corruption accordingly.”
Gcaleka was lambasted by some political parties for her office’s report on the Phala Phala farm scandal which cleared Ramaphosa of allegations related to misusing state resources during a probe into the farm robbery.
The public protector investigated whether Ramaphosa abused state resources after millions of US dollars were stolen from his game farm in Limpopo in February 2020.
DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach described Gcaleka as unfit for the office saying she did not deserve the seven-year contract. “The public protector is meant to be a firm independent voice.
“Gcaleka has demonstrated her political biases as well as her inexperience in litigation and prosecution. She is unfit for the battles that will be before her, as those that captured our state will seek to do so again,” Breytenbach previously said.
Congratulations Adv Kholeka Gcaleka on being appointed Public Protector thus heading one of South Africa’s democracy anchoring institutions. It’s a well deserved appointment. Your professionalism, levelheadedness and sagacity will help you navigate whatever life brings your way… https://t.co/gCZadMhoSj
— Prof Thuli Madonsela #KindnessBuilds (@ThuliMadonsela3) November 1, 2023
