Kholeka Gcaleka: Five things to know about the new Public Protector

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Advocate Nompilo Kholeka Gcaleka as Public Protector for a non-renewable term of seven years with effect from 1 November 2023.

Ramaphosa appointed Gcaleka in terms of section 193(4) of Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and on the recommendation of the National Assembly. Here’s what we know about the new Public Protector.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT KHOLEKA GCALEKA

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• Kholeka Gcaleka was born in Johannesburg and grew up in Umzimkhulu, KwaZulu-Natal.
• Gcaleka studied law at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, where she later obtained her LLB degree in 2003. The thirst for knowledge doesn’t stop there, either. The new Public Protector also holds a Masters in Commercial Law obtained at the University of Johannesburg.
• Has she got the experience? Well, she has been Mkhwebane’s deputy since 2020 and has been the Acting Public Protector since Mkhwebane’s suspension. She has almost 15 years working as an advocate under her belt.
• Advocate Gcaleka has served as a Special Advisor to the Ministers for the Department of Public Service and Administration; Department of Home Affairs and Department of Finance respectively – with a specific focus in the areas of administration, legal, legislation and policy development, strategy, compliance and governance. Adv. Gcaleka, served on the Committee of Enquiry probing the state of affairs of municipalities across Gauteng. She has also served on various boards.
• Lastly, Kholeka Gcaleka is the former first black female National Chairperson of the Society of State Advocates.

ALSO READ: ‘Undeniably tainted’: EFF rejects Kholeka Gcaleka’s appointment as PP

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