It's official. Kholeka Gcaleka is the new Public Protector.

Her seven-year term starts on Wednesday.

The Presidency announced on Wednesday morning that President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Gcaleka, the former Deputy Public Protector who took on the role of acting Public Protector since June last year. 

"The president wishes advocate Gcaleka well in her position and trusts that she will serve the people of South Africa with honour and dedication," the Presidency said in a statement.

Ramaphosa didn't have a choice in the matter after the National Assembly approved an Ad Hoc Committee to Select a Public Protector recommendation for Gcaleka's appointment with a narrow margin after a heated debate.

The nomination received just four votes more than the required threshold of 240, with the ANC, IFP, AIC, NFP, GOOD party, and Al Jamah-ah supporting her appointment.

These parties described Gcaleka as the best candidate during the interviews, arguing that she demonstrated that she has the qualities required of a Public Protector.

But the DA, EFF, FF Plus, ACDP and ATM called into question her independence – a requirement for the Public Protector, given her previous ANC Youth League membership, the fact that she worked as an advisor for former minister Malusi Gigaba and her report on Phala Phala, which exonerated Ramaphosa.

The term of Gcaleka's predecessor, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, ended on 14 October. Mkhwebane, however, was suspended by Ramaphosa in June last year ahead of an inquiry into her fitness for office.

After an arduous process, with Mkhwebane and her legal team filibustering, the inquiry found Mkhwebane incompetent and guilty of misconduct, and recommended her removal. The required two-thirds majority of the National Assembly voted in support of her removal on 11  September, and she became the first head of a Chapter 9 institution to be removed.

She has since joined the EFF and now represents the party in the House that removed her. Also, she will serve on the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, which oversees the Public Protector.

During Gcaleka's time as acting Public Protector, the office released a report clearing Ramaphosa of wrongdoing in the Phala Phala matter, which proved to be a source of opposition parties' objection to her appointment.

Gcaleka started her career as a prosecutor at the National Prosecuting Authority and later became an advisor for Gigaba while he was the Minister of Home Affairs. Thereafter, she became an advisor to Senzo Mchunu when he was the Minister of Public Service and Administration.