Advocate Dinkie Portia Dube's appointment as Deputy Public Protector welcomed by Justice committee

The chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development Xola Nqola, has welcomed the appointment of Advocate Dinkie Portia Dube as Deputy Public Protector.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Adv Dube’s appointment on Thursday for a non-renewable term of seven years, with effect from 1 February 2026.

The presidency statement said Dube is currently the Director-General of the Public Service Commission, before which she served as the Chief Director: Operations in the Office of the Military Ombudsman.

Between 2011 and 2014, she was the provincial director of the Gauteng Office of the Public Protector South Africa

Dube brings more than 20 years of experience in the public sector, with extensive expertise in oversight, complaints management and investigations.

The position of Deputy Public Protector became vacant following the appointment of Adv Kholeka Gcaleka as Public Protector.

Nqola said Dube enjoyed unanimous support from the multiparty committee that conducted the interview process.

“All members who participated in the interviews last year agreed that Adv Dube was the strongest candidate among those interviewed. She was calm and composed during a very robust interview process, demonstrated a wide knowledge of the field and articulated her responses clearly and confidently. We therefore recommended to the National Assembly and by extension the President that she should be appointed,” Nqola said.

He wished Dube well in her new role and assured her of the committee’s support.

“At the same time, the committee will continue to exercise its oversight responsibilities vigorously, but in a constructive manner, in the interest of strengthening constitutional democracy,” he emphasised.

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