Second public protector CEO takes early exit

Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s new CEO has called it quits less than a year after taking the reins at the Chapter 9 institution.

Her office confirmed on Tuesday that Themba Dlamini‚ who filled the vacancy left by advocate Louisa Zondo in March‚ has resigned.

Cleopatra Mosana‚ Mkhwebane’s spokeswoman‚ said Dlamini — who has a career spanning three decades in the private and public sectors — cited personal reasons for not being able to remain for his fixed five-year term.

PREVIOUS CEO ZONDO ALSO CITED PERSONAL REASONS FOR HER RESIGNATION IN NOVEMBER 2016

“Yes‚ I can confirm [that Dlamini has resigned] and he [cited] personal reasons‚” Mosana said.

“The public protector has accepted the resignation. His last day will be December 6,” the spokeswoman said.

In a statement released when Dlamini was appointed, Mkhwebane said that the new CEO would bring a wealth of knowledge with him and he would help “improve institutional performance, getting more out of [the] little resources we have at our disposal”.

The public protector said Dlamini had held CEO positions at the Independent Communications Authority of SA and the National Gambling Board.

He also served as the deputy director-general responsible for corporate services and governance within the Department of Science and Technology and was a special adviser to the minister of labour at the time.

Previous CEO Zondo also cited personal reasons for her resignation in November 2016, less than three weeks into Mkhwebane’s seven-year term.

There was speculation that Zondo’s departure was due to a lack of faith in Mkhwebane.