Thuli Madonsela

Thuli Madonsela
Public Protector of South Africa
Assumed office
19 October 2009
Appointed by President Jacob Zuma
Deputy Kevin Malunga[1]
Preceded by Lawrence Mushwana
Personal details
Born Thulisile Nomkhosi Madonsela
(1962-09-28) 28 September 1962
Johannesburg, South Africa
Political party ANC[2][3][4]
Children 2[5][6]
Alma mater University of Swaziland
University of the Witwatersrand
Occupation Ombudsman
Profession Lawyer
Religion Christian[4][5]

Thulisile Nomkhosi "Thuli" Madonsela (born 28 September 1962)[7][8] is a South African advocate and the Public Protector of South Africa.

Early life and education

Thuli was born in Johannesburg in 1962,[9] the daughter of informal traders Bafana and Nomasonto, and grew up in Soweto.[5] She attended Evelyn Baring High School in Nhlangano in Swaziland, from where her family originates.[10][11] She graduated with a BA in Law from the University of Swaziland in 1987, and an LLB from the University of the Witwatersrand in 1990.[7] On the 26th March, 2015, Thuli Madonsela was awarded a Doctor of Laws degree, LL.D. (Honoris causa) from one of the leading universities in Africa, the University of Stellenbosch. She was further awarded another Doctor of Laws degree, LL.D. (Honoris causa) from the University of Cape Town; the award ceremony took place at Jameson Hall on June 11, 2015.

Politics

Madonsela is an ordinary member of the Pretoria branch of the African National Congress (ANC).[2][3][4] During the apartheid era Madonsela served in the ANC and in the United Democratic Front anti-apartheid organisation.[12] She believes that holding political office would not be her "best contribution as a human being". In 1994 she declined the position of ANC MP in South Africa's first post-apartheid Parliament.[3][4][13] In January 2014 it was reported that several ANC branches in Gauteng had unsuccessfully nominated her as a candidate to represent the ANC in the National Assembly or one of the provincial legislatures in the 2014 general election. Her spokesperson said she was unaware of the nomination and would not have accepted it.[2]

Career

Madonsela has worked for trade unions and in both the public and private sectors since the 1980s.[7][9][14] She was a member of the team who drafted the final constitution of South Africa promulgated by then President Nelson Mandela in 1996.[5][9] After Mandela's death, Madonsela said in a tribute to him: "We will always admire him for gladly submitting his administration to the scrutiny of checks and balances such as the courts and institutions supporting democracy when its actions came into question."[15] Prior to her appointment as Public Protector, Madonsela served as a full-time member of the South African Law Reform Commission,[3][16] appointed to the position in 2007 by then President Thabo Mbeki.[14]

Public Protector

Madonsela was appointed Public Protector by President Jacob Zuma for a non-renewable seven-year term commencing 19 October 2009, with unanimous support from the multi-party National Assembly.[16][17][18] At the announcement of her appointment, Zuma said Madonsela "will need to ensure that this office continues to be accessible to ordinary citizens and undertakes its work without fear or favour".[16][19] Madonsela likens her role as Public Protector to the Venda chief's paternal aunt known as the makhadzi, a non-political figure who "gives the people a voice while giving the traditional leader a conscience".[20][21][22]

In 2012, she investigated "kickbacks" received by Julius Malema in the context of traffic department contracts given to external contractor On-Point Engineering.[23]

As Public Protector Madonsela also investigated complaints regarding public spending on Zuma's private homestead in the KwaZulu-Natal town of Nkandla.[24] Her final report on security upgrades to Zuma's homestead titled Secure in Comfort was published on 19 March 2014. Madonsela found that Zuma had benefited unduly from the R246 million the state had spent on the upgrades.[25][26] Her report has been met with much criticism and opposition from representatives of the ANC ruling party. Shortly before her final report was made public, ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe and cabinet minister Lindiwe Sisulu made public statements undermining Madonsela and her report, with Mantashe calling it a "political report".[3][27] After its publication, the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) called for Madonsela's resignation, and members of the ANCYL and the ANC-aligned Congress of South African Students (COSAS) made disparaging remarks about her. COSAS, which had been admonished by female cabinet minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula for a "sexist" remark, subsequently retracted "a personal address to comrade Madonsela".[28][29][30] ANC chief whip Stone Sizani said "we strongly believe that she has overstepped the mark" by making some "disparaging remarks" with "political overtones".[3][31] A group of lawyers from KwaZulu-Natal started a public campaign to discredit her report, and she was accused of having a political agenda by cabinet minister Fikile Mbalula.[21][32] On 4 July 2014, ANC MPs in the justice portfolio committee objected to Madonsela's "views that are political in nature" and committee chairperson Mathole Motshekga suggested that the powers of the Public Protector, which are governed by the country's constitution, be reviewed.[33][34]

Zuma made a submission to Parliament on 14 August 2014 regarding Madonsela's report on Nkandla.[35] Madonsela wrote a letter to Zuma dated 21 August 2014, stating that his submission to Parliament was not an adequate response to her report and requesting a response to her letter by 4 September 2014.[36][37][38] During a media briefing on 26 August 2014, Gwede Mantashe criticised her handling of the matter, saying the ANC want her to "behave correctly" and "not abuse" her term of office, while his deputy Jessie Duarte expressed concerns about Madonsela being "populist in her orientation".[39][40] Madonsela subsequently held a press conference on 28 August 2014, in which she defended her actions and requested those ANC members interfering with her duties to stop doing so.[12] The same day, civil rights organisation AfriForum laid criminal charges against Mantashe and Duarte for contravening the Public Protector Act by insulting the Public Protector.[41] The general secretary of ANC Tripartite Alliance partner COSATU Zwelinzima Vavi and general secretary of its largest affiliate NUMSA Irvin Jim subsequently defended Madonsela and criticised the ANC's response.[42][43][44] Madonsela later elaborated to the media that her letter to Zuma complements the parallel parliamentary process, "because finally they would have the president's comments on my report. But now they only have the president's own initiative, which is a general statement on his observations on what happened there, but he's not saying whether he agrees or disagrees with me. He is not saying what he is going to do to fix his branch of government."[4] On 6 September 2014, deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Kebby Maphatsoe publicly accused Madonsela of "acting like a counter-revolutionary" and working for the CIA. Madonsela said she would charge Maphatsoe with contempt if he does not retract his accusations.[45][46] The ANC distanced itself from Maphatsoe's statements and he publicly withdrew them on 9 September 2014.[47] In a written response sent to Madonsela on 11 September 2014, Zuma disagreed with her understanding of her authority in the matter.[48]

Opposition parties Economic Freedom Fighters and Democratic Alliance approached the Constitutional Court to enforce Madonsela's findings after they were ignored by Zuma and dismissed in Parliament.[49][50] On 31 March 2016, the Constitutional Court delivered a unanimous judgement stating that the Public Protector's report was binding and Zuma and the National Assembly failed to uphold the country's constitution. The court ordered National Treasury to determine the amount that Zuma must pay back and ordered Zuma to do so within 45 days of the court's approval of the National Treasury report.[51]

Personal life

Thuli Madonsela raised her two children, a boy and a girl, as a single parent. Her husband died when the children were very young. In 1980, Thuli Madonsela began her career as an assistant teacher at her former school, Evelyn Baring High School, in Swaziland. In 1982 she became an assistant teacher at Naledi High School in Soweto, one of the schools at the center of the 1976 Soweto Uprising.[52][53]

Awards

Publications

References

  1. ↑ "Address by the Deputy Minister for Justice & Constitutional Development, Mr Andries Nel, MP on the occasion of the Introduction of the Deputy Public Protector Adv K Malunga to Stakeholders held at Woodhill Country Club on 13 December 2012". Department of Justice. Retrieved 30 August 2014. Advocate Kevin Sifiso Malunga was appointed by President Jacob Zuma as Deputy Public Protector on 10 December 2012 for a seven year term.
  2. 1 2 3 Molatlhwa, Olebogeng; Mabuza, Kingdom (28 January 2014). "JZ gets a Thuli slap". The Times. Archived from the original on 30 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cohen, Mike (22 April 2014). "Graft Ombudsman Madonsela Rattles South Africa's Ruling ANC (2)". Bloomberg Businessweek. Archived from the original on 28 August 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "What's next for Thuli Madonsela?". City Press. 31 August 2014. Archived from the original on 1 September 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "The law is where I belong". City Press. 9 July 2011. Archived from the original on 28 August 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  6. ↑ "2012 and still we ask: Can women have it all?". City Press. 4 August 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 "Resume of Thuli Madonsela". ANC. Archived from the original on 28 August 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  8. ↑ Grootes, Stephen (2013). S.A. Politics: Unspun. Kenilworth: Burnet Media. ISBN 9780987043764. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Hlongwane, Sipho; Nicolson, Greg (5 December 2011). "Thuli Madonsela, 2011 South African Person of the Year". Daily Maverick. Archived from the original on 28 August 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  10. ↑ Madonsela, Thuli (2012). Page, Samantha, ed. From Me to Me. Auckland Park, South Africa: Jacana. pp. 46–47. ISBN 9781431404223. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  11. ↑ Nkambule, Mfanukhona (27 October 2013). "Thuli Madonsela at Mbabane Wedding!". Times of Swaziland. Archived from the original on 30 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  12. 1 2 Mbanjwa, Xolani (28 August 2014). "Stop the Nkandla mudslinging, Thuli Madonsela tells ANC". City Press. Archived from the original on 30 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  13. ↑ Munusamy, Ranjeni (26 September 2013). "Interview: Thuli Madonsela – game changer, giant slayer". Daily Maverick. Archived from the original on 31 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  14. 1 2 Sole, Sam; McKune, Craig (8 July 2011). "Madonsela vs the world". Mail & Guardian. Archived from the original on 30 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  15. ↑ "Madonsela calls Madiba a 'gift to humanity'". Mail & Guardian. 6 December 2013. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  16. 1 2 3 Bathembu, Chris (19 October 2009). "Zuma appoints new Public Protector". SouthAfrica.info. Archived from the original on 28 August 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  17. ↑ Mbanjwa, Xolani (23 October 2009). "I will not be intimidated – Madonsela". IOL. Archived from the original on 28 August 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  18. ↑ Vecchiatto, Paul (19 March 2014). "Nkandla report overshadows public protector's other work". Business Day. Archived from the original on 28 August 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  19. ↑ Maphumulo, Solly (31 August 2014). "Thuli fears for her safety". Sunday Independent. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  20. ↑ Madonsela, Thuli (4 June 2011). "Way of the makhadzi". City Press. Archived from the original on 2 September 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  21. 1 2 3 Munusamy, Ranjeni (24 April 2014). "Thuli's Time: SA's protector, sentinel, Makhadzi gets global recognition". Daily Maverick. Archived from the original on 28 August 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  22. ↑ Buijs, Gina (2007). "'Ritual Sisters' or Female Rulers? Gender and Chiefship Revisited in Southern Africa". In Bryceson, Deborah Fahy; Okely, Judith; Webber, Jonathan. Identity and Networks: Fashioning Gender and Ethnicity Across Cultures. New York, N.Y: Berghahn Books. pp. 164–178. ISBN 9781845451615. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  23. ↑ http://mg.co.za/article/2012-10-11-madonsela-report-puts-malemas-jobs-houses-freedom-on-the-line
  24. ↑ Marrian, Natasha (4 April 2014). "Truth is Nkandla probe was long time in the making". Business Day. Archived from the original on 30 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  25. ↑ Madonsela, Thuli (19 March 2014). Secure in Comfort (PDF). Public Protector South Africa. ISBN 9781920692155. Archived from the original on 30 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  26. ↑ Evans, Sarah (19 March 2014). "Nkandla report: Zuma unduly benefited from upgrades". Mail & Guardian. Archived from the original on 21 March 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  27. ↑ Pillay, Verashni (18 March 2014). "Nkandla report: It's the ANC vs Thuli Madonsela". Mail & Guardian. Archived from the original on 30 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  28. ↑ Marrian, Natasha (24 March 2014). "ANC 'distances itself' from youth league's disparaging comments". Business Day. Archived from the original on 30 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  29. ↑ du Plessis, Carien (24 March 2014). "Minister: Don't criticise Thuli Madonsela’s looks". City Press. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  30. ↑ "Cosas retracts Madonsela nose comment". News24. SAPA. 25 March 2014. Archived from the original on 30 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  31. ↑ Makinana, Andisiwe (26 March 2014). "Madonsela has not sent Nkandla report to Parliament". Mail & Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  32. ↑ sama Yende, Sizwe (6 April 2014). "Madonsela's report not 'alpha and omega' – Fikile Mbalula". City Press. Archived from the original on 28 August 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  33. ↑ "ANC calls for review of Madonsela's 'powers'". News24. SAPA. 4 July 2014. Archived from the original on 30 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  34. ↑ de Vos, Pierre (9 July 2014). "Wishful thinking: If the public protector were helped to do her job". Daily Maverick. Archived from the original on 30 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  35. ↑ du Plessis, Carien (14 August 2014). "Nkandla: Jacob Zuma's 5-point response to Parliament". City Press. Archived from the original on 1 September 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  36. ↑ Kgosana, Caiphus (24 August 2014). "Nkandla: Thuli Madonsela's tough letter to Jacob Zuma". City Press. Archived from the original on 30 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  37. ↑ Ndenze, Babalo (25 August 2014). "Thuli's letter: ANC leaps to Zuma's defence". IOL. Archived from the original on 30 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  38. ↑ Stone, Setumo (29 August 2014). "Madonsela in appeal to 'obey the rules'". Business Day. Archived from the original on 30 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  39. ↑ Ndenze, Babalo; Seale, Lebogang (27 August 2014). "ANC, Thuli go head to head". IOL. SAPA. Archived from the original on 29 August 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  40. ↑ "Duarte questions leaks from 'populist' Madonsela's office". Mail & Guardian. SAPA. 26 August 2014. Archived from the original on 29 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  41. ↑ "AfriForum opens case against ANC". News24. SAPA. 28 August 2014. Archived from the original on 31 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  42. ↑ "Thuli Madonsela did her job very well – Numsa". City Press. SAPA. 29 August 2014. Archived from the original on 31 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  43. ↑ Shoba, Sibongakonke; Mokone, Thabo; Joubert, Jan-Jan (31 August 2014). "It's payback time, Vavi tells Zuma". Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 31 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  44. ↑ "Vavi calls for action from Zuma". IOL. SAPA. 31 August 2014. Archived from the original on 31 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  45. ↑ Ndaba, Baldwin (8 September 2014). "Thuli a CIA spy, says deputy minister". The Star. Archived from the original on 8 September 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  46. ↑ de Wet, Phillip (8 September 2014). "Madonsela-CIA accusation sparks diplomatic row". Mail & Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 September 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  47. ↑ Vecchiatto, Paul (10 September 2014). "Maphatsoe apologises over public protector spy claim". Business Day. Archived from the original on 10 September 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  48. ↑ Marrian, Natasha (12 September 2014). "Zuma questions Madonsela's power". Business Day. Archived from the original on 14 September 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  49. ↑ Rabkin, Franny (15 September 2015). "DA joins EFF in Nkandla court case". Business Day. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  50. ↑ Amogelang Mbatha, Michael Cohen (3 February 2016). "Zuma Blinks Again: Home-Cost Concession Signals Waning Power". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  51. ↑ Thamm, Marianne (31 March 2016). "Nkandla ConCourt ruling: President Zuma and National Assembly in breach of Constitution". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  52. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20130304082457/http://www.citypress.co.za/features/2012-and-still-we-ask-can-women-have-it-all-20120804/
  53. ↑ http://www.incwajana.com/thuli-madonsela/
  54. ↑ Sanusi, Lamido (23 April 2014). "TIME 100 LEADERS – Thuli Madonsela – South Africa's fearless public advocate". Time. Archived from the original on 28 August 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  55. ↑ Ndlovu, Nandi (27 August 2014). "Glamour Women of the Year awards". The Star. Archived from the original on 28 August 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  56. ↑ "ANN7 South African of the Year 2014 Award". ANN7. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  57. ↑ "Madonsela takes South African of the Year award". SABC News. 8 September 2014. Archived from the original on 8 September 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  58. ↑ "Madonsela wins global award for integrity". Mail & Guardian. SAPA. 17 October 2014. Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  59. ↑ "Public Protector Thuli Madonsela receives fourth honorary Doctor of Laws degree, 11 Jun | South African Government". www.gov.za. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  60. ↑ "Thuli Madonsela receives FW de Klerk Goodwill Award 2016". www.politicsweb.co.za Retrieved 10 February 2016.

External links

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