Madam Speaker,
We consider this nomination against the background of the Constitutional Court’s judgement—the Nkandla judgement, which not only delivered a stinging rebuke of the treatment of the Public Protector by the Executive and the Legislature, but affirmed unambiguously the Public Protector’s role in guarding democracy.
We in the African Christian Democratic Party fully appreciate the very important role that the Public Protector plays in protecting our constitutional democracy.
That judgement was a passionate defence of the rule of law and the importance of the Public Protector in protecting the poor and marginalised who lack financial resources to litigate, and to protect them from state corruption and impropriety.
Former Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng stated that the Public Protector “is the embodiment of the biblical ‘David’—that the public is who fights the most powerful and very well-resourced ‘Goliath’ that impunity and corruption by government are.”
The ACDP believes that it is regrettable that this process took so long, and I, as a member of the previous Portfolio Committee and as a member of this Portfolio Committee (Justice and Constitutional Development) accept responsibility. Each one of us needs to accept responsibility for the delays in the appointment of the Deputy Public Protector given that the letter was received on the 5th of December 2023, almost two years ago, to appoint the Deputy Public Protector.
The question arises: Have we as Parliament yet again failed in our constitutional duty of supporting the Public Protector?
We in the ACDP trust we’ve learned lessons from this process, but will support the nomination and wish the Deputy Public Protector everything of the very best with her appointment.
I thank you.
