The Programme Committee of the South African National Assembly (lower house of Parliament) has agreed to have its first meeting next week to elect a chairperson for the Adhoc Committee which will identify candidates to become the next Public Protector (Ombudsman) to succeed the incumbent, Thuli Madonsela, whose term of office expires in October.

The agreement came Thursday after a draft resolution was submitted to the Programme Committee to establish the Adhoc Committee before the National Assembly rises next week.

The 11-member Adhoc Committee will consist of six members of Parliament (MPs) from the ruling African National Congress (ANC), two from the Democratic Alliance (DA), one from Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and two MPs representing smaller parties.

The Chairman of the Programme Committee, Cedric Frolick, told the various parties to submit the names of their representative to National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete’s office as soon as possible for the formal process to begin.

“We want the chairperson to be elected next week so that they can start the process of advertising and also identifying and submitting a programme to Parliament,” said Frolick.

The draft resolution proposed that the Adhoc Committee must report back to the House on Aug 31, with the recommended name of a new Public Protector.

SOURCE: NAM NEWS NETWORK