Picture: for illustration purposes
Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of Parliament (MP) Glynnis Breytenbach faced widespread condemnation on Thursday after allegedly making sexist and racist remarks against the newly appointed Public Protector, Kholeka Gcaleka. Lawmakers expelled her from Parliament after she refused to apologise for her controversial statements.
Breytenbach alleged during a Parliament session that Gcaleka had only advanced in her career at the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) because of her "cosy" and "intimate" relationship with former NPA boss Menzi Simelane. Her comments came during a discussion to consider Gcaleka's appointment as the new Public Protector, a move that the DA opposes.
Breytenbach, known for her outspokenness, also criticised Gcaleka's track record as a prosecutor at the NPA. She suggested that Gcaleka's performance had been subpar and expressed strong opposition to Gcaleka's appointment as Public Protector.
Her remarks have ignited a debate on the intersection of power, gender, racism, and ethics within the South African political arena.