Who really wants the job of public protector?
Amidst all the drama in our country, with the President having to pay back only R7.2-m for the Nkandla saga and the fiasco at the SABC, there is another unfolding story that peaks my interest.
This is the search that is currently on to fill Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s shoes.
My question is, who really wants this job? It’s like choosing to be the new coach of the English soccer team.
Sure, the money is probably good, and so are the perks, but being the Public Protector is like stepping into hell with your eyes wide open.
At the moment, atby the time of writing this article (June 30), 59 names remain after Nhlanhla Nene (former finance minister), Gerrie Nel and other prominent figures rejected the nomination.
Really? People declined this job? Shocking. Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t, I say!
By the way, members of the public have until July 8 to make objections to any of these candidates (and you are urged to participate, to stem corruption).
You would have thought Nene might have considered challenging for the position considering the rough deal he got,
By the way, for those who do not know, the office of South Africa’s Public Protector is tasked with strengthening constitutional democracy and good governance.
So, why is this not a job for the fainthearted?
Well, consider the cases Thuli has had to tackle. In her time in the office, since 2009, she has investigated the likes of expelled ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema, controversial ex-police chief Bheki Cele and a string of big-spending government ministers.
Her probes so far have led to the axing of at least two ministers – the late Sicelo Shiceka of Cooperative Governance, and Public Works’ Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde – and Cele, who was found guilty of authorising a dodgy lease deal worth billions of Rand.
She was also involved in investigating Guptagate. Remember that saga?
That was when, in May 2013, foreign guests of the wedding of Vega Gupta landed at the Waterkloof Air Force Base without going through customs and immigration.
Probably, what has given her the biggest headache is Nkandla.
Her two-year investigation looked into the so-called “security upgrades” at President Jacob Zuma’s private homestead, which was paid for by the state.
Madonsela’s report estimated the costs of the upgrade to be R246-m, but said they could be higher. The Public Protector found Zuma had violated the Executive Ethics Code by failing to cap state spending and also by unduly benefiting from it.
These are few of numerous cases that she was burdened with, all for the sake of protecting our democracy.
And so ,since 2009, she has borne the scrutiny of the entire nation; some praising her calm demeanour and impartiality, while she has also suffered the wrath of the ruling party.
By the way, it is actually a sad indictment against this country and the quality of our public service when we fall over ourselves with praise at the sight of an official who does their job well!
In the midst of all the Public Protector’s troubles, there was also the reported death threat against her from a gang boss.
Indeed, she has suffered numerous attacks as a person, while even her family has been scrutinised.
Funny enough, in reaction to a question asked by another media publication, if she would still have taken up the job if she had known all the pending strife, she said absolutely.
She said in an interview it’s a job that needs to be done.
There are few in this country, I mean the public, who would not laud her for fulfilling the mandate of her office with faultless precision, vigour and determination.
But again I ask the question: who would really want this job?
Yes, it is vital and of pivotal importance for a Public Protector with nerves of steel to be appointed, but it is an invitation, once accepted, that will inevitably gnaw away at your soul.
Thanks, but no thanks.
