Madonsela: Executive can’t act unchecked

South African Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, known for her fierce stance against corruption, says she isn’t in support of the Executive deciding what they want without any checks and balances. Madonsela was responding to questions during a Women in Leadership breakfast meeting in Windhoek, where she addressed Namibian politicians, business personalities and women leaders. Madonsela, who spoke on a range of issues, said she is unfamiliar with the situation in Namibia, but she does not agree with the Executive making decisions on its own without a system in place for checks and balances. She described the Executive as the only branch of government that decides on its own its benefits. The Executive consist of the president and the cabinet. Cabinet members are also members of the Legislative branch of government in Namibia. In the past, the Namibian cabinet purchased luxury vehicles for cabinet ministers despite public criticism. Recently cabinet members and members of parliament called for a parliamentary village to be built in Windhoek for supposedly cash-strapped MPs. Last year, MPs called for a number of benefits for themselves, including VIP status for life, increased medical aid benefits and land purchases at a reduced price. Madonsela also spoke on inclusive constitutional democracy and gender equality. “The ideal of inclusive constitutional democracy founded on social justice is one we share with you as the people of South Africa,” she said. “In fact we modelled aspects of our constitution on yours. This includes to some extent my office, the Public Protector. Although the architects of our democracy went a little further in terms of powers and fortification of the Public Protector, its essential features approximate to those of the Namibian Ombudsman. “Although we go under the universal title of Ombudsman, we are multi-mandate institutions whose mandate includes fostering integrity and accountability in the public sector and helping our people exact accountability in the exercise of state power and control over public resources,” she continued. Namibian Sun asked Madonsela about the situation in Namibia where reports on the Ombudsman’s inquiries aren’t made available to public. Madonsela said she normally makes her reports public, as it’s in the public interest. “My office has a great relationship with the media and I think that it’s important that reports are made public unless it’s very sensitive,” she said. Madonsela urged the Namibian media to continue working with the office of the Ombudsman. “The Ombudsman depends on dialogue,” she said. Speaking on women in leadership, Madonsela said one thing she discovered about women from her own experience and studies is that women tend to not seek a title or power but rather to serve. “Whether we are talking about the days of Deborah rising to lead, Esther stepping up to intercede, Princess Nzinga standing her ground or Gwamile standing in the gap when leadership was needed, or Olive Schreiner standing up to the powerful Cecil John Rhodes or Charlotte Maxeke standing up to Paul Kruger, the pattern is similar, women tend to step in when service is required. “When they feel something needs to be protected or saved they step up in courage, confidence and remarkable competence and get the problem solved,” she said. She further said that women’s characteristic approach to leadership is both a strength and weakness. “Call it a service or a problem; they step up. Give it a name and position; they look around to find a man,” she said. Sharing some of the lessons she’s learned from other iconic women, Madonsela urged women to walk the path less travelled, to sacrifice their comfort for the greater good, to show bravery amid danger and to speak truth to power. On gender equality, Madonsela said it is not about one getting more than the other. “Women winning doesn’t mean men losing,” she said. WINDHOEK GORDON JOSEPH