Mathole Motshekga, the chairman of parliament's portfolio committee on justice, is an object to be gazed upon with wonder - and shame. He is a man who has built nothing of substance and is in the process of destroying something of great importance to our nation.Motshekga, with his Harvard degrees and Unisa doctorates, is set upon the singular task of ensuring that Thuli Madonsela, the widely admired public protector, never again touches President Jacob Zuma or brings him to account for his part in the theft of R246-million of taxpayers' money. Motshekga wants not just to destroy her but to create a eunuch of her office for generations to come. He wants to mould it in his own image: a lapdog.He wants it to become brainless, acquiescent, toothless. He wants it to become a lackey of politicians.This week, Motshekga ruled that Madonsela must formally report to him four times a year. Beeld newspaper pointed out that this is two times more than other Chapter 9 institutions and entities that his committee oversees.Watchers of Motshekga and his relentless assault on the public protector's office will remember that just two weeks ago he repeatedly interrupted Madonsela in parliament to speak to "her supporters in the DA".His lackey ANC MP Bongani Bongo accused her of "behaving like the DA".Why is Madonsela being singled out for special treatment? What has she done to deserve it? Beeld pointed out that "because Madonsela's office received an unqualified audit 'with findings' during the last financial year, the committee said during its budget speech she had to submit an 'audit action plan' to the committee and from now on make quarterly progress reports".Well, you would say, that's what parliament does: it holds institutions to account. But then listen to this: "The public protector is one of eight entities reporting to the justice committee. The Human Rights Commission and the Special Investigating Unit also received unqualified audits with findings, but still report to the committee [only] twice a year. Third Party Funds received a qualified audit, but no additional measures were taken against the fund."Therein lies the rub. Motshekga is going after Madonsela because she dared to investigate and find against Zuma on the Nkandla matter. This is what it is all about.What drives people like Motshekga, then?Motshekga has had a long but mediocre history in politics. In 1998, the ANC made him premier of Gauteng. He was so appalling at the job that President Thabo Mbeki did not pick him to continue in 1999.The ANC secretary-general at the time, Kgalema Motlanthe, gamely tried to deny that the man had been fired and said his "talents could be put to better use elsewhere".Motshekga then joined the Zuma grouping, the so-called "coalition of the disgruntled". He was amply rewarded with the position of chief whip when the Zuma faction rose to power.He didn't do such a great job. The Sunday Times reported in 2013 that his office had issued a directive to ANC MPs to "go easy" on cabinet members and not embarrass them with difficult questions.He was fired as ANC chief whip when it became clear that the party's MPs had lost discipline and were essentially without meaningful leadership in parliament.The truth is that Motshekga, now a political nonentity, is feeling unappreciated and neglected so he is trying to make himself relevant to his boss.In October, Motshekga single-handedly absolved Zuma of any wrongdoing regarding Nkandla, saying: "One should be upfront here and say the president has not violated any code of conduct. Even to begin to suggest payment by the president, of anything, begins to seem absurd."Really? So why are we all now waiting for Police Minister Nathi Nhleko to tell us what Zuma owes?Weak men are dangerous. Motshekga is politically weak (he did not make it onto the national executive committee of the ANC in 2012) and essentially survives at the whim of party bosses.He is a reflection of the Zuma cabinet. Many are political lightweights. They depend on being tapped by Zuma for high office - or else they are nothing.Expect Motshekga, and about 75% of the current ANC leadership, to continue the assault on the public protector and other independent institutions...