Public Protector Thuli Madonsela was disappointed when her deputy Kevin Malunga failed to make the cut as her successor, she told journalists on Wednesday.

When journalists asked Madonsela if she was disappointed when she heard the news that Malunga was not shortlisted she said, "Well obviously, I have worked with my deputy. It's not my place to comment on Parliament's decision. I think Parliament made a decision it wanted."

Madonsela said she was confident Malunga was not corruptible.

"For me having worked with him I know he has his heart in this work. His not corruptible. I know that he motivates the team and I also know that he is not me. He has his strengths and he has different weaknesses and the important thing is that Parliament doesn't appoint somebody who is supposed to be my clone."

Madonsela said she hoped that Parliament would appoint an independent person who had not just worked in public service.

She said she was able to do the job because she had experience in both the public sector and had run her own company.

"I hope that Parliament appoints somebody who is strong in administration, who has operated independently before, somebody who has run an institution but is independent; because I didn't come out from this job straight from the public service. I had run my own company so I knew what it means to make decisions where you are the last person to make a decision," she said at a law conference in Johannesburg.

End of term

The State Security Agency (SSA) - which screened the 14 candidates who applied to replace Madonsela - said in a letter that Malunga, who was born in Zimbabwe, did not meet the requirements for top secret security clearance due to his current status as a naturalised citizen.

This emerged during interviews the candidates had with Parliament's ad hoc committee.

He was naturalised in 2010, having renounced his Zimbabwean citizenship, and would only be eligible for full clearance after 20 years.

Parliament's ad hoc committee tasked with finding a new Public Protector is expected to decide on a candidate to replace Madonsela.

Last week, the committee whittled the 14 remaining candidates down to five. In a relatively short meeting, MPs called for certain candidates to "fall".

Candidates including Malunga and former National Prosecuting Authority asset forfeiture unit head Willie Hofmeyr did not make the cut.

Of the five remain candidates: Judges Siraj Desai and Sharise Weiner, advocates Busisiwe Mkhwebane and Muvhango Lukhaimane and Professor Bongani Majola, the committee chose Mkhwebane.

Mkhwebane’s name will be tabled for endorsement in the National Assembly by August 31.

Madonsela's seven-year term ends in mid-October.