Many South Africans capable of filling Madonsela's shoes - Pikoli

22 June 2016

Cape Town – Former National Prosecuting Authority head Vusi Pikoli would not throw his hat in the ring to fill the Public Protector post, even if he was nominated.

“I’m enjoying the work I am doing here. Working with police, communities, it’s great,” he told News24 on Wednesday.

Pikoli is the provincial police ombudsman in the Western Cape, where he deals with complaints from the public regarding service delivery by police.

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s term ends in October, and Parliament has tasked the ad hoc committee with nominating a replacement by August 31.

Pikoli said there were a lot of capable South Africans who could fill Madonsela’s shoes.

“She has done a wonderful job,” he said.

Nominations and applications for the post close on Friday. After that, the names would be made public for scrutiny.

Pikoli said there were a number of retired judges in the country who would make great public protectors.

“I don’t know if they would be interested.”

He said great nominations could include former Constitutional Court justice Yvonne Mokgoro, who was appointed by former president Nelson Mandela in 1994 to the bench.

Other "capable" possibilities were Kate O'Regan, former Khayelitsha Commission head, and human rights lawyer Dumisa Ntsebeza.

Short-listed candidates would be interviewed after the August 3 local government elections.

This article first appeared on News24, see here.