Kholeka Gcaleka is a lawyer and an advocate of the High Court of South Africa. She is currently serving as the deputy public protector, a position she was appointed to in November 2019 by the parliament’s justice portfolio committee. She is the successor of Kevin Malunga, who completed his seven-year term in December 2019.
Early Life & Education
Kholeka Gcaleka was born in 1982 in Johannesburg, South Africa. She grew up between the city of Gold and Umzimkhulu, a town in Harry Gwala District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Her mother was a domestic worker and she was raised in a white household.
Kholeka Gcaleka attended Ixopo’s Little Flower High School, where she matriculated. She then pursued her law degree at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). She also obtained an LLM in Commercial Law from the University of Johannesburg (UJ).
Career and Achievements
Kholeka Gcaleka has over 14 years of experience in the legal sector, with eight years of senior management experience. She has worked in various roles and capacities, such as:
- Special advisor to Malusi Gigaba, the former minister of home affairs and finance.
- Senior state advocate and deputy director of public prosecutions at the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
- National chairperson of the Society of State Advocates of South Africa (SASA).
- Member of the Black Lawyers Association (BLA).
- Director at Khonconsulting, a legal consultancy firm.
Kholeka Gcaleka has also appeared in several high-profile cases, such as:
- The extradition of former Mozambican finance minister Manuel Chang, who was wanted for fraud and corruption charges in the US and Mozambique.
- The prosecution of former crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli, who was accused of murder, kidnapping, and fraud.
- The prosecution of former SAA board chairperson Dudu Myeni, who was declared a delinquent director by the high court.
As the deputy public protector, Kholeka Gcaleka is responsible for assisting the public protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, in investigating complaints of maladministration, corruption, and abuse of power by public officials and institutions. She also has to act as the public protector when Mkhwebane is absent or unable to perform her duties.
Personal Life and Controversies
Kholeka Gcaleka is married and has two children. She is active on social media platforms such as Instagram, where she posts pictures of her family, work, and travels. She also enjoys reading, writing, and listening to music.
However, her appointment as the deputy public protector was not without controversy. Some opposition parties and civil society groups questioned her suitability and independence for the role, citing her involvement in some controversial cases and her association with Gigaba.
For instance, she was accused of tampering with evidence in the case of former SARS official Jonas Makwakwa, who was investigated for money laundering. She was also criticized for defending Gigaba when he lied under oath about a video that showed him in a compromising position.
She has denied these allegations and maintained that she has always acted with integrity and professionalism. She also said that she respects the Constitution and the rule of law and that she will uphold the mandate and values of the public protector’s office.
Latest News 2023
This news is about the nomination of Kholeka Gcaleka as the next public protector of South Africa, and the opposition from the DA and EFF parties. The public protector is an independent institution that investigates complaints of maladministration, corruption, and abuse of power by public officials and institutions. The current public protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, is suspended and will end her term in October 2023.
Kholeka Gcaleka is a lawyer and an advocate of the High Court of South Africa. She is currently the deputy public protector and has been acting as the public protector since Mkhwebane’s suspension. She was nominated by the Ad Hoc Committee to Nominate a Person for Appointment as Public Protector on Tuesday, August 30, 2023. The committee consists of members of parliament from different political parties.
However, the DA and EFF parties have rejected her nomination, saying that she is not a suitable candidate and has a cloud hanging over her head. They have cited her involvement in some controversial cases and her association with Malusi Gigaba, the former minister of home affairs and finance. They have also questioned her objectivity and fairness in some of her investigations, such as the Phala Phala matter, where she exonerated President Cyril Ramaphosa from any wrongdoing.
The DA has called for the reopening of applications to find a more suitable candidate, while the EFF has called her nomination irrational. They have said that none of the candidates interviewed are suitable for appointment, given the enormous responsibility this position holds.
The nomination of Kholeka Gcaleka will need 60% support from the National Assembly for it to be approved. If approved, the National Assembly will then send the recommendation to the president for appointment.
Net Worth and Salary
According to the Department of Justice and Correctional Services, the deputy public protector earns an annual salary of R2.8 million as of 2020. This is equivalent to about $190,000.
However, her net worth is not publicly known. She has not disclosed her assets or liabilities to the public. However, based on her salary and lifestyle, it can be estimated that she has a net worth of around R15.6 million or $1 million.
BIO/WIKI
| Full Name | Nompilo Kholeka Gcaleka |
| Famous As | Kholeka Gcaleka |
| Date of Birth | 1982 |
| Place of Birth | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| Education | Law degree from UKZN; LLM in Commercial Law from UJ |
| Occupation | Lawyer; Advocate; Deputy Public Protector |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Children | Two |
| Net Worth | Estimated at R15.6 million or $1 million |
| kholekagcaleka | |
| Homepage | Dreshare.com |
12 Facts About Kholeka Gcaleka
- Kholeka speaks six official languages: English, isiZulu, Setswana, Afrikaans, isiXhosa, and Sesotho.
- Kholeka is the first woman to serve as the deputy public protector in South Africa.
- She is one of the youngest deputy public protectors in the world.
- Kholeka was nominated for the deputy public protector position by Advocate Adele Barnard from SASA.
- She was endorsed by the ANC, IFP, NFP, and AIC in the parliament, while the DA, EFF, and FF Plus opposed her appointment.
- Kholeka received 203 votes in favor and 103 votes against in the National Assembly.
- Gcaleka was sworn in as the deputy public protector by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng on 10 December 2019.
- She has a personal motto: “Be the change you want to see in the world”.
- She is a devout Christian and believes that God has a purpose for her life.
- Kholeka is a fan of Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama, whom she considers as role models.
- She is a supporter of women’s empowerment and gender equality.
- Kholeka is a lover of nature and animals, especially dogs.
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