Posts

CAMPAIGNS

Meet your public protector ad hoc committee

The political parties which comprise the ad-hoc committee. On 24 May the National Assembly appointed an ad-hoc committee to oversee the appointment process for a new public protector. The non-renewable seven-year term of incumbent Thuli Madonsela comes to an end in October 2016 and a successor must take over. After weeks of scrutinising, shortlisting and Read more >

CAMPAIGNS

Correspondence with public protector ad hoc committee

At the end of May, once we knew who would be serving on the ad hoc committee to oversee the public protector appointment, we wrote to the committee expressing our support, and making a request or two. Committee chairperson Makhosi Khoza sent us a cordial reply, saying that our interest was appreciated, and that the Read more >

CAMPAIGNS

Who will fill Thuli Madonsela’s shoes?

By Kavisha Pillay, project manager, Bua Mzansi campaign If staff at the Office of the Public Protector had their way, a high court judge would be their new boss, according to a survey by civil society organisation Corruption Watch. This is the view of most of the staff working with Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, whose Read more >

CAMPAIGNS

Upcoming vacancy: public protector

The ad hoc committee established to nominate a candidate for the position of public protector would like to inform South Africans that the advertisement calling for nominations or applications for the post is now available. South Africans are reminded to take note of the closing time and date, which is 16h00 on 24 June 2016, Read more >

CAMPAIGNS

Public protector selection process about to start

The moment that South Africans have been anticipating is almost here – next week the selection and appointment of a new public protector will officially begin with the establishment of an ad hoc committee to oversee the process. The National Assembly is responsible for the process, which must be open to public participation in terms Read more >

CAMPAIGNS

Little transparency in Parly shortlist process

On Friday 22 April, a multiparty subcommittee of Parliament’s joint standing committee on intelligence met to shortlist candidates applying to be the new inspector-general of intelligence (IGI) – but dismally failed the transparency test. This has important implications for our Bua Mzansi campaign, which is mobilising people to get involved in choosing the new public protector. The Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Take part in our public protector persona survey!

Public participation in the appointment of a new public protector – and other positions that require similar processes – is written into the Constitution. In chapter nine, section 193 (appointment of the public protector or member of any commission established under chapter nine) it states that “(6) The involvement of civil society in the recommendation Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Political parties: the missing link in our constitution?

By Kate O’Regan Justice of the Constitutional Court (1994 – 2009) Introduction The Constitution of the United States of America is 7 000 words long. Nowhere does it mention political parties. And that was not because the question did not arise. James Madison, in The Federalist No 10, characterised “factions”, his reference to political parties, Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Can a changed electoral system boost accountability?

By Judith February In South Africa, it’s becoming a matter of routine for presidential question time to be disrupted. Recent scenes in the National Assembly left little room for doubt – as if there was any after the chaos of the state of the nation address in February ­– that Parliament is fast losing the Read more >