The Citizen (Gauteng)

I don’t want that job

DAUGHTER: ‘SHE HAS NO INTEREST TO BE PUBLIC PROSECUTIO­NS BOSS’

- Amanda Watson amandaw@citizen.co.za

Former public protector Thuli Madonsela has no interest in the vacant national director of public prosecutio­ns post, preferring to do ‘much more; a wider variety of things’, says her daughter, Wenzile.

‘She told me after she left as public protector that she wanted to bring back the ’80s.’

Professor Thuli Madonsela, who many regard as the bastion of fairness and justice, is not ready, available or willing to take on the poisoned chalice of the national director of public prosecutio­ns (NDPP).

This was confirmed to The Citizen yesterday by her daughter Wenzile Madonsela.

Speculatio­n over who the next NDPP would be has been mounting, with many calling for their favourite former public protector to take up the yoke.

“She is one of those people who feels that you must do what you believe God has called you to do,” Wenzile said.

“Thuli believes in not trying to fight for space when the space has never been yours. She’s always felt she has been called to justice, social justice particular­ly.

“She’s more than willing to work with the ANC on policies, more than willing to work with the provincial legislatur­e on legislatio­n, more than willing to work with universiti­es, but she doesn’t want a specific job which will hinder her from being able to do much more, or a wider variety of things,” added Wenzile.

As chair of social justice at the Stellenbos­ch University, Wenzile said Thuli was able to create an entire facility which allowed her “to be a maverick”.

“She told me after she left as public protector that she wanted to bring back the ’80s. The ’80s was a time when movements started, things happened. People saw injustice and inequality and immediatel­y collected themselves and did something about it,” said Wenzile.

“When you’re in a political space like [the NPA], you can’t do that.”

Wenzile said her mother was being rejuvenate­d by youth.

“Any movement or revolution, the youth have always been the ones to drive the country to something better, even if it ended up in war.

“Thuli is a firm believer in that, which is why she finds herself in a campus university where she is always part of the One Young World (a global forum for young leaders aged 18-30) which believes the youth are able to drive a better future.”

Wenzile said Thuli was trying to hand over the baton to the next

Thuli believes in not trying to fight for space when the space has never been yours

generation.

“She has no interest to be the next NDPP,” Wenzile said firmly. –

Wenzile Madonsela Daughter of Thuli Madonsela

 ?? Picture: Gallo Images ?? THULI MADONSELA
Picture: Gallo Images THULI MADONSELA

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