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Earlier in July Corruption Watch (CW) wrote to the parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee on the Appointment of the Auditor-General (AG) with a detailed submission containing our views, plans and recommendations. The term of the incumbent AG Kimi Makwetu, who has served with distinction, comes to an end on 30 November 2020.
Our submission to the AG committee focused on three main aspects – transparency, public participation, and objective assessments of the candidates. These are the same principles that we have urged Parliament to uphold in previous appointment processes, including the public protector, deputy public protector, and national police commissioner.
On the evening of 30 July the committee met specifically to discuss our submission. It obtained a legal opinion which concluded that “Corruption Watch’s recommendations are in line with the Constitution and what is legally required of MPs”. The legal opinion advised the committee to accept and implement all of our recommendations – albeit with a few tweaks.
This is good news for democracy.
The committee has also conceded to providing an opportunity for public participation to comment on or object to candidates. What’s more, it has invited us to make further contributions and submissions to the process.
The next phase is for the committee to draw up its shortlist. This process will not be rushed, the committee said, because members want to apply their minds to the CVs.
Download and read our full submission.
Download and read our AG public education material, which explains the process of selection.
