Parliament lauds Madonsela & Co

Parliament yesterday bade farewell to heads of four chapter 9 institutions and applauded them for the role they played in advancing democracy.

Bongani Khumalo of the Financial and Fiscal Commission, Lawrence Mushwana of the S A Human Rights Commission, former public protector Thuli Madonsela and head of the Commission for Gender Equality Mfanozelwe Shozi were honoured at the farewell function .

But only Shozi and Khumalo were able to attend the ceremony.

"They have made our constitutional democracy much stronger and have made citizens feel that the supreme law of the land protects them," National Assembly house chairman Thoko Didiza said.

Justice and Correctional Services Deputy Minister John Jeffery said there was "more public interest than ever before" in Chapter 9 institutions.

"It's not enough for people to just have rights; it's about knowing where to go when those rights are infringed [upon]," he said.

Jeffery said the "robust exchanges" between Madonsela and the justice committee, and the court challenges, were signs of a mature and strong democracy.

Shozi called on MPs to ensure gender equality in all spheres of life.

He recalled some of the highlights of his term, including arriving at a wedding in KwaZulu-Natal, where a 13-year-old girl was to be married off to a 60-year-old man.

"They had slaughtered the cows and the wedding was imminent. I thought they were going to slaughter me but luckily I had the police on my side. The ilobolo [was returned] and the girl is now doing her matric," he said.