DA to oppose Mkhwebane as next public protector

"She was by no means the best candidate for such a position and was illogically preferred over other qualifying candidates."

That’s why the Democratic Alliance (DA) will oppose the appointment of advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane as the next public protector.

The party’s Glynnis Breytenbach said in a statement on Tuesday that while "Mkhwebane may turn out to be a capable candidate for the position of the Public Protector and we wish her well if Parliament and the president confirm her nomination…we contend that her qualifications and experience make her unsuitable for this position".

Breytenbach listed the main reasons the DA does not support her nomination as being:

- "She has little or no practical experience to justify such an appointment when compared with the experience of the other four candidates;

- "She was employed by Home Affairs as a director (salary level approximately R1-million annually) immediately prior to this process being initiated;

- "She changed employment around June 2016‚ and went to State Security Agency (SSA) as an analyst;

- "When asked in the interview why she had changed jobs for what is ostensibly a demotion‚ her reply was that she ‘was passionate about the Constitution’. While this is noble value to hold; it alone does not make her eligible for the position or separate her from the other more qualified candidates; and

- "We have been advised that the time spent as an ‘immigration officer’ in China is also suspicious‚ having been informed that this is simply coded language for being on the payroll of SSA."