THE public protector’s office is currently the subject of two opposing
processes. One is the Section 194 parliamentary impeachment process and the other one is the parliamentary process to appoint a successor to Busisiwe Mkhwebane at the end of her seven-year term in October. The first one is engulfed in controversy. The second one has the potential to become controversial.
Since 1995, the four public protectors conceptualised their roles vastly differently.
Selby Baqwa and Lawrence Mushwana were relatively low-key role-players while Thuli Madonsela elevated it to national prominence, especially in relation to former president Jacob Zuma and state
