Opposition party, Democratic Alliance (DA) Shadow Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Advocate Glynnis Breytenbach told Parliament on Thursday that appointing Kholeka Gcaleka as the new Public Protector of South Africa will be “settling for less” as the DA believes she is not experienced to run the office independently and impartially.

Parliament is expected to vote, today, on whether Gcaleka will take over the Public Protector’s office following the impeachment of Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane.

Gcaleka has been acting in the position since last year.

Breytenbach argued that the Public Protector's office demanded a high level of ethical conduct and integrity and was not convinced that Gcaleka on her own would be able to run the office.

“I am afraid, on her own history, Gcaleka does not meet that high standard. We should not settle for less. We should not settle. This position is too important to settle for possibly the best of a very mediocre bunch. Is this the type of dubious mediocrity we want to appoint into one of the most important offices in our Constitutional democracy. I should think not,” said Breytenbach.

The DA also stressed that Gcaleka had done nothing to improve the performance of the Public Protector’s office.

Gcaleka was a prosecutor in the National Prosecuting Authority, with some experience in litigation, but the DA said she was not there long enough to be described as an experienced litigator, and it said while there, she did not conduct herself with distinction.

“She was peripherally involved in the [Richard] Mdluli matter, which cannot be regarded as a success, since his conviction was on the basis of such watered-down charges that the murder of Oupa Ramogibe remains unaccounted for to this day,” added the party.