Madonsela’s children feared for her safety

DURING her time in office as public protector, Thuli Madonsela’s two children worried about her safety. This worried their mother. In an exclusive interview in Marie Claire’s August issue on what’s next for Madonsela when she leaves office in October, Madonsela reveals that her children, Wenzile Una, 24, and Mbusowabantu “Wantu” Fidel, 27, supported her in her work.

“My children are a great source of support. I worry that during this office they saw themselves as the parents, the ones who worry about me. It should be my job to protect them,” Madonsela said.

Wenzile and Wantu were not the only ones worried about Madonsela’s safety.

In May, news about a hit on her sent shock waves through the country.

“The news that someone had taken out a contract on my life left me shocked and confused,” she said.

“Since the whistle-blower had been truthful to me before, I took the alert seriously.”

So, with just three months left before her term ends, what’s next?

Madonsela rules out a future in politics and becoming the country’s president.

Instead, she will venture into teaching again, practise law, write and participate in “a vibrant society, building democracy and building social justice”, she told the magazine.