Bench or parliament?

What qualities should a public protector have, do you imagine? Bua Mzansi, a Corruption Watch initiative, surveyed members of parliament as well as staff members in the office of the public protector. In the end, 23 parliamentarians responded, and 83 staff members at the public protector’s office. Overall:

36% of MPs believed that being a high court judge was a “very important” qualification for the next public protector, while 22% believed it was not.

36% of MPs said the next public protector should possess a cumulative 10 years’ experience as an advocate or attorney.

23% of MPs believed the next public protector should have a cumulative period of 10 years as a member of parliament while 70% did not.

100% of MPs said Thuli Madonsela’s successor should have “specialised knowledge or experience of 10 years” in justice, administration and public finances.

Staff members in the public protector’s office believed that experience as a high court judge was important.

The staff members agreed that the next public protector should have been admitted as an attorney or advocate for at least a decade.

Where the public protector staff differed notably from MPs was in the fact that they said 10 years’ experience in parliament was the least important qualification.