Too soon to judge

THERE has been a recent attack on the public protector. After a year into her term, various political entities have criticised her performance in office. As usual, there have been demands for her dismissal.

It is submitted that this is either premature or, more especially, baseless. The operative in question has been in office for only one year. This is a very short space of time to make a decision as to her continued service, especially in an office of the stature and term that she occupies. It is extremely difficult to determine how you can persuasively fire someone in that office after only one year in service.

The second point is the nature of the criticism. The general atmosphere of the criticism somehow epitomises the tone of what passes for debate in South Africa these days. The raw, unilateral and aggressive criticism of a state operative, as well as the insolent questions raised about the protector herself, are merely average for the time. It is always harshly unilateral, and there is never hard evidence to exhibit to the public.

It seems that, according to the people who are making the demands for her dismissal, any highlighted state operative should be dismissed. This is too easy to demand, yet it is a common statement these days. As soon as there is any controversy, demands are instantly made for the dismissal of the operative concerned. These demands are never successful. Umqwathi Green Oudtshoorn