Lauded former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela is the standard every public servant can look up to, a new award-winning documentary reveals.

The former Public Protector is the focus of a new Showmax documentary called Whispering Truth to Power. For the documentary, filmmaker Shameela Seedat tracks South Africa’s Public Protector’s final year in office as she tackles corruption against a background of inequality

During her term as public protector, her office handled 130,000 complaints. Over a seven-year span and most from ordinary South Africans.

Although she was not alone in her quest for transparency, Madonsela takes the lead role as an unrelenting yet quick corruption fighter.

Woman24 highlighted some scenes from the documentary that shows how she championed her position.

In an outstanding scene capturing Madonselas gravitas, patience and empathy all at once, she addresses a group of angry residents caught up in an ugly argument.

“Don’t be so divided. Stop fighting. Get united, so that you don’t get people coming in and stealing your money.”

Although their pain is reflected in her face she won’t let emotions cloud her judgement. At this point, it’s hard to argue that “thuli” or Mama Thuli, as some of the community call her, is not one of the most iconic and inspiring South Africans in our country’s history.

Showing scenes of tense discussion in parliament and fierce opposition from former president Jacob Zuma, the tension is palpable.  Madonsela has rattled the powers that be. This enchanting documentary is a reminder of those times and the knife-edge the country balanced on.

Read more on Woman24.